When Ying Cai bought a toy car for his son in August, the box it
came in had no playing instructions or age limitations. Nothing
unusual there: Ying simply asked the salesclerk what age group the
toy was for. She told him it was fine for a child over 18 months.
"After getting home, I found the car's four wheels could be
removed. What would have happened had my son swallowed one of them?
This is not a toy, it's a killer," said Ying.
From October 1, that toy car will not be sold in China, and the
clerk will be more careful in answering questions. The State
Technical Specifications for Toy Safety (STSTS) will go into effect
on that day, and much of its work is to focus on these killer toys
that are currently sold with impunity.
The new specifications will require that the toy car Ying bought
have safety markings, a proper warning and instructions for use. A
substantial amount of details?are included in the
specifications. For example, toys not suitable for children under
the age of three must have a special, clearly marked safety label
that explains the risks. Toys containing small parts must also have
warning labels, either on the toys themselves or on their
packaging. Illustrations are required in cases where warnings or
instructions may be easily misunderstood.
"The implementation of the new specifications won't have much
impact on qualified toy enterprises. However, quite a number of
poorly equipped enterprises will be driven out of the market," said
Liang Mei, secretary general of the China Toys Association.
At present China has some 8,000 toy manufacturing enterprises
registered, but in fact there are more than 10,000 operating,
including a considerable number running with only a few sewing
machines and using waste materials to produce stuffed and plush
toys. These poorly equipped workshops focus on making their toys
different, exciting and attractive to boost sales, but pay very
little attention to safety.
The STSTS is a full-scale revision of the 1986 specifications,
bringing China's toy manufacturing standard up to the international
level. Many of the new specifications now comply with the
internationally practiced ISO8124 toy standard, which prescribes
all the requirements for toy design for children below age 14, not
only in consideration of normal use, but also of the possibility
that children will use the toys for other purposes.
In addition, the STSTS contains detailed provisions on age group
division. Customers will be able to choose toys according to their
children's capability and interest, based on the average level of
different age groups.
For example, toddlers age three and below habitually put things
into their mouths, increasing the risk of choking or asphyxiation.
Toys containing small, removable parts are inappropriate for this
group.
Toys that contain harmful chemicals or are fuel-powered will be
suitable for children age eight and over only with parental
supervision.
At present, only the outer paint coating on toys is subject to
inspection for heavy metal elements, but from October 1, this will
be extended to almost all materials used to manufacture toys. The
permissible heavy metal content will be half the previous level. If
one component in a toy fails an inspection, the entire product will
be blocked from the market.
Xie Fenghua, director of the Membership Management Department of
the China Toys Association, says that more than 85 percent of the
8,000 registered toy enterprises export their products.
Because most of the STSTS provisions comply with the ISO8124
international standard, its implementation will bolster the toy
export market. Previously, there were many cases in which buyers
overseas returned orders of Chinese toys owing to the absence of
international standard marks and signs.
From 2006, all toy enterprises have to meet the International
Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) Code of Business Practices or they
will not be allowed to sell their products in the international
market. ICTI authenticates toy makers through designated inspection
organizations. Enterprises must pay fees of 100,000 yuan
(US$12,077) to 1 million yuan (US$120,773) for the annual
inspection and authentication.
Deputy Director Jiang Liyuan of the Shenzhen Import and Export
Toy Inspection Center says that ICTI authentication is an
international trend, but enterprises do have some difficulties with
the inspection steps. She says, "Complicated procedures and
expensive fees would be a critical reason to reduce the popularity
of ICTI authentication."
Despite additional costs due to the practice, many enterprises
agree that it will be difficult for them to get orders from clients
without passing the authentication. Not to mention saving the life
of a child.
(Beijing Review September 14, 2004)
