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Chinese Toys in Azerbaijan Pose Danger

Business Materials 17 August 2007 16:43 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. U.Ismayilova / The Republican Health and Safety Inspector reported that toys made in China by Mattel Inc. that may put children's health in danger are being sold illegally in Azerbaijan.

Mattel Inc. is one of the largest firm-producers of toys for children in the US (the most popular toy is 'Barbie'). The company recalled some 18.2mln toys made in one of the company's branches in China, from American, Canadian, British, and Mexican markets. The world press reported that the director of the Chinese branch of the company committed suicide on 13 August.

The reason for recalling the toys is due to a high content of lead in the paint used for the toys, as well as in the magnets attached to these toys. Lead, which makes the paint more light, may cause brain disease, and children may swallow this magnet. Russian health inspectors also ordered all toy retailers to be checked, including for popular toys such as Barbie produced by Mattel Inc.

"Dangerous Chinese toys are being illegally delivered to Azerbaijan," Jafar Ahmadov, the Deputy Chief of the Inspectorate, stated to Trend Agency. Ahmadov said that Mattel Inc. toys are not delivered to Azerbaijan officially. There is no information about banned Chinese toys in the Inspectorate.

About ten Chinese companies producing toys have been registered in the Inspectorate. All these companies received quality certification after an official inspection of their laboratories, Ahmadov said. The Sanitary-Guarantee Inspectorate does not check certifications in trade facilities.

One of the largest toy retailers in Baku told Trend Agency that they sell Mattel Inc. toys, however, denied the information about an August delivery. About 40% of toys sold in Baku are made in China. The director of the trade centre did not call Trend back for an interview.

The Republican Hygiene and Epidemiology Center, which controls the quality of goods in trade facilities did not take measures to control the quality of Chinese toys, as no appeal has been submitted regarding the issue, Ziyaddin Kazimov, the Director of the Department of the Centre, said on 17 August.

According to Eyyub Huseyinov, the head of the Free Consumers Union, most goods, including toys, do not pass certification in Azerbaijan.

Huseyinov reported to Trend that the Union did not monitor the quality of the toys delivered to the country, although the issue regarding the quality of Chinese toys has been discussed by the Government.

Consumers know the situation and they have become alarmed.

"The main issue is the health of our children, said one shopper at a Baku-based toy shop. The issue regarding endangering our children's lives alarms all of us. But what can we, as consumers, do? We are just buying the toys our children want, we cannot be sure of the quality of the toys. Producers of these toys should think of it."

The recalled toys include Big Bird, Elmo, Dora, Diego, and characters from Sesame Street.

The world press quoted the Trade Minister of China, who said that the Chinese productions were absolutely safe. However, Chen Shu-khan, the owner of the Li Der plant, situated in southern China, hanged himself after toys produced in his plant were recalled.

CNN reported that a lawsuit has been filed against Mattel Inc. in California. The plaintiff's complaint is regarding the lead-based paint.

"I was horrified to know that my own two-year old child was playing with one of the toys from Sesame Street within the last two months, stated Rod Anderhilla, the plaintiff, to CNN. Being a former lawyer protecting children's rights, I have worked on such problems. But the fact that my own child played with such a toy horrified me as a parent."

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