Chinese importers to conduct consumer safety talks with US

After the incessant recall of Chinese-made toys last week, Senator Dick Durbin asked US importers to conduct an inspection on all toys that will come from China. The Democrat senator said that Chinese importers have been practicing negligent standards on safety, which is why American toy firms must let third party companies to inspect the quality of imported toys coming from the said Asian country.

Meanwhile, Zhao Baoqing, a commerce official based in China's embassy in the US, said that inspections of products must be part of the trade deal between importers and exporters. He added that making the third-party inspection on all products coming from China mandatory will undermine businesses of the brand-holders. By the end of this month and in September, delegations from China are expected to conduct talks with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. Zhao asked the US to cooperate and try to create solutions through diplomatic talks instead of publicizing its complaints.

However, as an alleged reprisal to the damage made to Chinese-labeled products, China has barred pork products coming from US importers. Beijing officials said that pork products from the US may have ractopamine, a pig feed additive and growth hormone that is prohibited in China.

It must be noted that Mattel, a US-based toy manufacturer recalled millions of toys last week after the discovery of lead content in the paint used for the said items. Aside from lead, the toymaker also found that other toys brought by Chinese importers to the country have small magnets that were loose. Playsets including Polly Pocket, Doggie Daycare, One Piece, Batman Magna, and Cars were among the affected toys that were recalled in the US, UK, Ireland, and in some countries in Asia. The said recall of toys was the most recent issue on the series of alarming reports about the safety of products brought by Chinese importers to the US.