400,000 products recalled by U.S. safety group

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400,000 products recalled by U.S. safety group

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The Gloves are off, but will this result in a Trade War and Protectionism between China and the rest of the Manufacturing world for Global Consumer dollars?

Global Consumers who demand "Quality", yet want "Cheap" as well.

An "Oxymoron" which is "Unpossible".

Fears of excessive lead in children's toys were reignited this week after five recalls involving nearly 400,000 products were announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, following last week's massive recall initiated by toy giant Mattel.

The recalls are the latest chapter in an increasingly familiar and disturbing story of dangerous goods making their way into the hands of children after the government and industry fail to keep bad products out of the country.

"It doesn't really surprise us," Leigh Poirier, executive director of the Toy Testing Council, said from Ottawa on Thursday.

"Even if the manufacturing companies are given proper specifications, certain safety concerns are still falling through the cracks. The U.S. toy companies really need to make a commitment to ensure the proper safety and quality controls are put in place," she added.

This week, parents and retailers were again urged to scour toy boxes and store shelves for children's products -- ranging from charm bracelets to address books to spinning tops and pails -- after it was discovered they contain excessive levels of lead. All of the products involved in the various recalls were made in China.

Some of the toys were distributed in Canada, including tops and pails featuring Thomas and Friends and Curious George, which are sold by Schylling Associates Inc., based in Massachusetts.

Earlier this week, North American leaders pledged to work together to block the import of unsafe toys, and Health Minister Tony Clement said his department is reviewing legislation, standards and regulations to determine if there were any gaps in Canadian law that need to be fixed. The review is expected to be complete within weeks -- not months -- as a testament to how high of a priority this issue is for the government, said Erik Waddell, a spokesman for the minister.

"There's not much that isn't on the table," Waddell said. "We're not going to let anything slip."

Poirier said she hopes the government makes good on its promise to finally fix legislative gaps that have allowed unsafe goods to pour into the country for years.

"Hopefully this will be the catalyst," she said. "Especially in lieu of the major concerns there has been in lead paint. The safe amount of lead paint should be zero."

Last week, Mattel announced a massive recall of nearly 20 million toys due to concerns over high lead levels and small parts that could become dislodged and present a choking hazard. The revelation sent shock waves across the country as parents and retailers scrambled to remove affected products from store shelves and make sure they weren't in the hands of children.

The recall follows several safety scares involving Chinese-made products in recent months, including tainted pet food and fish, that has raised serious alarm over what government and industry are doing to ensure the safety of imported products.

"We're finding definitely over the last few weeks, the consumer confidence is decreasing," Poirier said. "When it's a potential health hazard to children, there should be no room for error."

On Thursday, a U.S. congressional committee has demanded information from Mattel Inc, Target Corp. and 17 other companies that recalled lead-tainted children's products made in China this year.

The U.S. House subcommittee on commerce, trade and consumer protection will also hold a Sept. 19 hearing on how to protect U.S. children from toys, jewelry and other imported products with lead paint.