Product safety moves up the priority agenda in China

In 2007 toymaker Mattel
recalled nearly a million
Chinese-made toys
allegedly coated with toxic
lead paint. Consumer
product safety can never be
under-estimated as it has far
reaching effects.
Defective imports from
the East are not necessarily
a new phenomenon, but it
has increasingly become
important for importers to
ensure there are measures
in place to safeguard the
millions of consumers
across the globe who are
increasingly dependent on
manufactured goods from
the East.
According to Edie
Tolkin, an American-based
consumer product safety
expert, the US recently
upgraded legislation for all
imports from China.
“The new Consumer
Product Safety
Improvement Act is a
very good basis and
measurement for countries
to use when looking at their
own legislation. Product
safety is a critical issue, and
has stemmed from product
recalls over the past several
years for products from
China. These include toxic
plastics and other chemicals
in baby bottles, baby
formula, cribs, playpens and
other baby carrier issues.
Lead levels in children’s
toys and flammability
problems in garments
have all been
noted,” says Tolkin.
“Sooner or later
I can see this
becoming a very
important issue
for manufacturing
worldwide.”
She says it is important
that importers ensure all
products brought into a
country, especially from
China, are safe. “All
products should be tested
and must adhere to very
specific regulations.”
She advises companies
to employ a Chinese
translator. “That way you
can be sure the factory
understands exactly what
the needs and requirements
are before manufacturing
begins.”
There is no doubt that the
stakes are extremely high
when looking at Chinese
manufacturing. With
billions of dollars invested
in China, contractors
producing goods for export
are under tremendous
pressure to produce vast
amounts of product quickly.
“Safety must, however,
never be compromised,”
says Tolkin. “All children’s
products, for example, must
be tested and certified.
The health and safety of
millions of consumers
lies in the balance should
substandard products be
brought into a country.”
China, on the other hand,
having faced some serious
international scrutiny, has
in recent years implemented
measures to clean up the
manufacturing of exported
goods.
Tolkin says knowing the
rules and regulations of
the origin and destination
countries is critical.
“Learn about your
own country’s safety
regulations and import
policies, but also know
the rules and regulations
of the manufacturing
country from which you are
exporting. Every country
has different regulations.
It is important to build up
a trustworthy relationship
throughout the supply chain
that includes the freight
forwarder and the customs
broker.”