When Ying Cai bought a toy car for his son in August, the box it came in had no playing instructions or age limitations. Nothing unusual there: Ying simply asked the salesclerk what age group the toy was for. She told him it was fine for a child over 18 months.

 

"After getting home, I found the car's four wheels could be removed. What would have happened had my son swallowed one of them? This is not a toy, it's a killer," said Ying.

 

From October 1, that toy car will not be sold in China, and the clerk will be more careful in answering questions. The State Technical Specifications for Toy Safety (STSTS) will go into effect on that day, and much of its work is to focus on these killer toys that are currently sold with impunity.

 

The new specifications will require that the toy car Ying bought have safety markings, a proper warning and instructions for use. A substantial amount of details are included in the specifications. For example, toys not suitable for children under the age of three must have a special, clearly marked safety label that explains the risks. Toys containing small parts must also have warning labels, either on the toys themselves or on their packaging. Illustrations are required in cases where warnings or instructions may be easily misunderstood.

 

"The implementation of the new specifications won't have much impact on qualified toy enterprises. However, quite a number of poorly equipped enterprises will be driven out of the market," said Liang Mei, secretary general of the China Toys Association.

 

At present China has some 8,000 toy manufacturing enterprises registered, but in fact there are more than 10,000 operating, including a considerable number running with only a few sewing machines and using waste materials to produce stuffed and plush toys. These poorly equipped workshops focus on making their toys different, exciting and attractive to boost sales, but pay very little attention to safety.

 

The STSTS is a full-scale revision of the 1986 specifications, bringing China's toy manufacturing standard up to the international level. Many of the new specifications now comply with the internationally practiced ISO8124 toy standard, which prescribes all the requirements for toy design for children below age 14, not only in consideration of normal use, but also of the possibility that children will use the toys for other purposes.

 

In addition, the STSTS contains detailed provisions on age group division. Customers will be able to choose toys according to their children's capability and interest, based on the average level of different age groups.

 

For example, toddlers age three and below habitually put things into their mouths, increasing the risk of choking or asphyxiation. Toys containing small, removable parts are inappropriate for this group.

 

Toys that contain harmful chemicals or are fuel-powered will be suitable for children age eight and over only with parental supervision.

 

At present, only the outer paint coating on toys is subject to inspection for heavy metal elements, but from October 1, this will be extended to almost all materials used to manufacture toys. The permissible heavy metal content will be half the previous level. If one component in a toy fails an inspection, the entire product will be blocked from the market.

 

Xie Fenghua, director of the Membership Management Department of the China Toys Association, says that more than 85 percent of the 8,000 registered toy enterprises export their products.

 

Because most of the STSTS provisions comply with the ISO8124 international standard, its implementation will bolster the toy export market. Previously, there were many cases in which buyers overseas returned orders of Chinese toys owing to the absence of international standard marks and signs.

 

From 2006, all toy enterprises have to meet the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) Code of Business Practices or they will not be allowed to sell their products in the international market. ICTI authenticates toy makers through designated inspection organizations. Enterprises must pay fees of 100,000 yuan (US$12,077) to 1 million yuan (US$120,773) for the annual inspection and authentication.

 

Deputy Director Jiang Liyuan of the Shenzhen Import and Export Toy Inspection Center says that ICTI authentication is an international trend, but enterprises do have some difficulties with the inspection steps. She says, "Complicated procedures and expensive fees would be a critical reason to reduce the popularity of ICTI authentication."

 

Despite additional costs due to the practice, many enterprises agree that it will be difficult for them to get orders from clients without passing the authentication. Not to mention saving the life of a child.

 

(Beijing Review September 14, 2004)