China's quality control watchdog said late Saturday initial
investigations had found the bead toys that were recalled in the
United States contained toxic substance.
The toys, products of Australia-based Moose Enterprises,
were? manufactured by the Wangqi Product Factory in China's
southern city of Shenzhen, the General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday recalled
the Chinese-made Aqua Dots sets as the beads contain an adhesive
solvent called "1,4 butylene glycol" that simulates the drug gamma
hydroxy butyrate if swallowed.
At least five children were reported to have fallen ill after
swallowing the beads in the United States and in Australia, where
the toy was sold under the name Bindeez.
The AQSIQ noted a Hong Kong firm, agent of Moose Enterprises,
outsourced the toys production to Wangqi Product Factory. The
English name of the Hong Kong firm is not yet available.
Investigations showed Wangqi Product Factory used the toxic "1,
4 butylene glycol" as softener in the production, and the product
contained 14.5 percent of "1,4 butylene glycol".
The Shenzhen factory started to produce the bead toys after its
trial? products provided to the agent received no objection.
Moose Enterprises provided the beads samples, the AQSIQ stated.
The packaging of the toys carried warnings including "swallowing
can cause danger" and "no use for children under three", the
investigations showed.
China has suspended exports of the children's bead toys and also
the toy maker's export license, according to the AQSIQ.
The watchdog added it is asking the US side for detecting
methods to help analyse and evaluate the potential harms the
chemical can cause.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2007)
