Keeping An Eye On Chinese Toymakers

(CBS)  The Big Brother cameras monitor factory floors and via the Internet American buyers can also watch in their offices back in the United States, CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports.

CBS News was shown all this because China desperately wants to convince America it is cleaning up its toymaking act.

"There is an old Chinese saying," says one officer. "If you can see it, you'll believe it."

Seeing to believe it is why we were invited to this factory in southern China, with its own quality control manager.

Only good quality, says quality control manager Eric Chin of Guandong, will give customers confidence.

This eagerness for openness comes because China's multi-billion dollar toy industry is under threat.

So, no surprise we were assured that supplies like paint are now triple-checked.

But the reality is that other factories are not so careful. Since the toy recalls started in the United States, Chinese authorities have shut down some 800 manufacturers.

And authorities are lighting a fire under state testing labs.

U.S. companies share the blame, pushing so hard to cut costs that some Chinese makers use cheaper lead paint.

Officials say the lab Petersen visited is working flat out - people are on overtime, more staff are being hired, and no wonder. They say they're doing five times as many tests as they did just a year ago. And China's government has sent some 200,000 inspectors across the country, checking all kinds of plants and manufacturers, from pharmaceuticals to farming.

But the main focus is toys - where China admits it is hurting.

All toy manufacturers, said a government-run newspaper, will feel the chill this winter.

Experts say China is getting better.

"But it still has half a century to go to catch up to where the United States is," said Daniel Rosen of the China Strategic Advisory.

China's ambition is selling America high-end products like TVs and cars.

But if they can't get simple wooden toys right, the world may turn its back on anything with a tainted label: "Made in China."

[pinpo12]

If we stop doing business with the chinese all together our economy would suffer even more than it has been, I think going to police our supplies is a smart move, but still I will be careful of what I buy that says "Made in China"

[lochlan-2009]

I don''t buy from China. These stories don''t effect me anymore.

[nexgen99]

1. Kids have too many toys
2. If it says made in China, don''t buy it.
3. Be an entrepreneur and start a new American toy company.

[allunknowing]

I''m pretty sure that 99% of the toys I played with as a kid were made in China. And I''m not too screwed up. Does this mean the next generation of ChinaToy-free/peanut-free/sugar-free/soda-free/cupcake-free/obesity-free/drug-free/gasoline-free/se.xually-abstained/ritalin-induced children are going to be Super Kids?

We have become such a Nanny-based society. If you all believe everything the news spoonfeeds you, you might as well go join PETA and start burning down libraries.

[pollroller1]

I don''t care what China does, I will not buy their toys for my grand kids and I don''t think I am the only one that feels this way.

[runningralph]

hissteps4u,
You have put your finger right on the bottom line of the trade relationship betwen China and India and the Western countries. You wonder when Chinese and Indians will organize for better pay. The Chinese show the real result of Communist revolution. Underpaid workers. Under Communism everyone works for the government, so that if workers agitate they are rebelling against the government. The repercussions are much more serious than rebelling against a private company. Unions know this so they won''t try to organize in China. As far as India, there seems to be some sort of cult that believes poverty is true enlightment. That may be true. Jesus said that it''s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven.

[nativewoman]

~But if they can''t get simple wooden toys right, the world may turn its back on anything with a tainted label: "Made in China."~

Yeah, ask Japan about that. Back in the day "Made in Japan" was synonymous with shoddy workmanship and considered an insult.

In March 2007, Consumer reports came out with its auto reliability and survey rankings. For the second time in 10 years, Japanese automakers took the top 10 spots.

We need to look in the mirror before we condemn others.

For example, the temporary ban from 2003 against allowing "downer" cattle into the human food supply was not made permanent by the FDA until July of this year. However, the FDA was aware at least as early as 2003 that European surveillance indicated that cattle with clinical signs of a CNS disorder, dead cattle, and cattle that can not rise from a recumbent position have a greater incidence of BSE (Mad Cow disease) than healthy cattle. DUH! Ya think?

Many European nations test up to half the cows slaughtered for human consumption, and Japan tests every head of cattle intended for the human food chain. Yet the FDA, Bush and large meat packers are opposed to increased testing due to the cost burden.

The United States allows pesticides banned for domestic use to be sold to other countries.

I guess the joke''s on us about that one though since we import food from the countries using these banned pesticides that we sold them.

[jetranger7]

Better not only eye CHINA, but also the US TOY makers who moved to CHINA, for cheap labor and to avoid paying some Taxes, while closing down some factories and laying off workers here to be able to make their JUNK in China !! Somebody should research and investigate just how many US Toy makers have moved to CHINA in the last 15 to 20 Years, and set up shop over there too !!! Far as I''m concerned they can take their so called Global Economy and stick it right up their Frickin Azz, along with that Frickin NAFTA & GATT & WTO ! You listinin you dumb azz politicians, wake up, pull your head out from between your cheeks, you dumb S.O.Bs !!!

[usayesterday]

I would say they have quite a bit of power over the U.S.

Posted by erasmus6 at 10:45 PM : Dec 18, 2007
..........

When I said "power" I was referring to the power that the Chinese people want to have over their government and the direction of their government. Similar to the "power" Americans have over their governmental system, but as I said before, very few of us Americans exercise that power... by voting... by helping others to vote or register to vote... etc.

[violet74]

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