China pulls export licences of 764 toy makers

BEIJING - China suspended the export licences of 764 toy manufacturers in the southern province of Guangdong last month because of quality problems, state media said on Thursday.

The Guangdong Quality Technology Supervision Administration conducted a province-wide investigation into the quality and safety of toys, food and other products on Wednesday, the China Daily said.

"Officials investigated 1,726 toy factories, almost 85 percent of the province's total, that had obtained quality certifications for exporting products," it said.

"Because of various quality problems, 764 factories had their certificates revoked or suspended. A further 690 were ordered to renovate their manufacturing facilities and improve product quality within a set period of time."

But more than 99 percent of export products from Guangdong were up to standard, Lai Tiansheng, director of the administration, was quoted as saying.

More than 20 million toys made in China have been recalled worldwide over the past four months due to potentially dangerous levels of lead and hazards posed by small magnets.

In the latest case, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday Toys "R" Us Inc was recalling about 16,000 toys because the surface coatings of the military style toys contain excessive levels of lead.

The quality of Chinese goods has come under international scrutiny following scandals involving products ranging from toothpaste and pet food to toys and fish.