The Toy Story!

By B Jayakishore

Do you know how safe are the toys you buy? We might get chinese toys for throw away prices in market. But these toys have become the cause for concern as it has been proved unsafe for use due to harmful chemical contents used in them. As you all know china is one of the largest toy exporter in the world. But recently it got a blow when its largest buyer America banned its toys that are coated with paint believed to contain dangerous levels of lead.

Interestingly, American government has banned several cheap chinese products including tainted seafood, toxic toothpaste and chemical-laced pet food for containing harmful chemicals in it. In a warning to consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on its Web site that surface paints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead, which can cause brain damage in young children when ingested.

Now, Its the turn of Fisher-Price. A famous American toys company owned by Mattel, which has its manufacturing base in China. Day before yesterday, Fisher-Price recalled nearly 1 million of its toys worldwide that are coated with paint believed to contain dangerous levels of lead.The recall covers 83 types of toys distributed in 32 countries, including toys such as Big Bird, Elmo, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Dora the Explorer and Diego.

Infact, this is the latest in a wave of recalls that has heightened global concern about the safety of Chinese-made products, adding to worries about the danger it it might cause. In a statement, Mattel said the recalled toys were made by a single contract manufacturer in China, one it described as having "had a good track record on product safety in the past." The contractor had used lead-tainted paint pigment in violation of "applicable standards" as well as of Mattel’s self-imposed standards, it said.

After this incident, Now, Chinese government has ordered complete overhaul of the safety norms for the manufacturing of toys and other products in the country.Also Mattel has said thatit will conduct a review of all its third-party manufacturing operations in China. Weather chinese companies get contracts in future or not, atleast chinese people will get more safer products from now onwards in the wake of governments strict order.

But What about us?Our children? Has India initiated such a move? Everyday tonnes of loads of toys are being dumped in Indian market.We the people crazy about 'Cheap' Chinese products continue to buy the product without applying mind weather these products are safe or not! However, in our country, can we expect for government to take action?