India Monday lifted the one month ban on Chinese toys, after the country's toy dealers became angry over the ban and said they are threatened with going out of business.
Indian Minister of Industry and Commerce Kamal Nath signed the order lifting the ban, said officials of the ministry, adding that the lift came into effect as of mid-day Monday.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a public notice that China could resume toy exports to India on condition that the products conform to the standards prescribed in regulations which primarily deal with safety and health hazards.
India imposed the ban on Jan. 23 for a six-month period on excuses of public safety and health. China rejected the ban, calling it act of protectionism.
Indian toy dealers have complained that they risk going out of business after toy prices soared by as much as 100 percent following the ban. Many said they are running out of stocks.
The government further said that the imports from China will have to be accompanied by a requisite certificate from laboratories accredited to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, according to the semi-official Press Trust of India.
Such laboratories include International Standardization Organization (ISO), said the government.
The toy market of India is estimated at 2.5 billion rupees (50 million U.S. dollars).
(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2009)
