Businesses in Shanghai are taking steps to ensure the quality and safety of Shanghai Expo licensed products.

Overseen by China's quality watchdog, JuneYao Group, an official producer of the 2010 event's authorized products, contracted China Certification & Inspection (Group) Co, as its third-party quality inspection service provider on Friday.

The inspection body will keep track of every link of the production process by JuneYao, for instance, the sourcing of raw materials, packaging and final inspection before they reach the market.

Workers at Kunshan Top Tree Decoration Co in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, polish zinc emblems of Haibao, the mascot of the Shanghai 2010 Expo, on Friday. The firm is a licensed manufacturer of souvenir products for the event.

The first batch of Shanghai Expo authorized products has been on sale since last month, with more merchandise including garments, accessories, stationery, glassware, pottery, toys and gifts set to hit the shelves.

"We are glad to achieve strategic cooperation with the most authoritative inspection body in the industry, and China Certification & Inspection will work on product certification and supervision of our products," Huang Hui, JuneYao's president, said during Friday's agreement signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, the inspection organization will provide services related to quality control and ensure manufacturers meet environmental protection and corporate social responsibility standards.

China Certification & Inspection is an international inspection and certification company authorized by the State Council.

"We abide by the most stringent standards in the world and closely inspect the metals used to see if the lead content is low enough," said Joe Hong, general manager of Kunshan Top Tree Decoration Co, a manufacturer appointed by JuneYao for the production of metal souvenirs.

"We conduct a sample inspection of one out of every 10 batches of raw materials, which are already required to have certification," he said, as all the products must be sampled and tested by the appointed inspection body and the nation's quality watchdog.

(China Daily January 19, 2008)