A Toy Story
Following the massive recall of Mattel toys made in China, parents around the world are considering a boycott of Chinese-made products, yet many realize such a move could make toy-buying unaffordable, Reuters reports. In an editorial, the International Herald Tribune calls for the U.S. and other countries to encourage a transparent regulatory system in China to oversee the safety of exports. Consumer advocates and lawmakers in the U.S. are also calling for stricter regulations here to check the safety of products, which is now largely done by companies themselves and on a system of trust. Author Ted Fishman writes on the USA Today site that U.S. consumers and businesses also bear responsibility for insisting on higher standards for imports.
Meanwhile, the only official response to the recall from the Chinese government was a written statement saying that the majority of products made there are safe, while an official from the China Toy Association acknowledged that they were aware of the problems with magnets on Mattel toys since March yet did nothing about it. AFP reports that there has been little news in China about the recalls, leaving Chinese citizens largely in the dark about the situation.
For more background see a parents’ guide to the toy recall from Time Magazine.
