The fact that recent extensive internal reviews and re-tests
following the toy recalls in the United States have led to few
further recalls indicated standards are being met, a US product
safety expert said Tuesday.
Speaking at a product safety conference in China's Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, Brenda Jacobs, a senior lawyer
specializing in trade law, said she saw "silver lining" for the
manufacturers amid the intensive recalls of items "made in
China."
"Many companies are conducting internal reviews and re-tests,"
she said, "but few are leading to recalls -- indicating that
standards are being met."
The recalls, which have led to a crisis of confidence about
items made in China and prompted the US congress and government to
act, could be a chance for the manufacturers to demonstrate the
quality and compliance of their products, she said.
Jacobs also noted that businesses and governments are
collaborating to enhance control measures and investing more
resources in product safety.
The Hong Kong government has been working proactively with the
industry to upgrade production process as one of the measures to
deal with the issue, said Jeffrey Lam, chairman of the Toys
Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Lam said he expected the pressure on Chinese manufacturers to
increase ahead of next year's presidential election in the United
States, adding that the conference Tuesday was one of the efforts
by the Hong Kong government to deal with the issue.
The conference was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development
Council and saw hundreds from governments, industry and the field
of product safety.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)
