China launches campaign to root out unqualified toy makers

China launched a national campaign Tuesday to root out unqualified toymakers from exporting products, following a massive worldwide recall of China-made toys. Toy producers' self-regulatory mechanism will also be improved to ensure quality.

All toymakers that manufacture products for foreign markets will need to apply for "quality license" within a month, meanwhile, the government will keep a closer watch on not only finished products but also on potentially dangerous chemicals and paints, and the records concerning suppliers of potentially dangerous chemicals for toys and toy subcontractors will be kept by Inspection and quarantine authorities.

The campaign follows two recent massive toy recalls in the U.S..

U.S. toy giant Mattel requested in early August that Foshan-based Lee Der Industrial Co Ltd recall 967,000 plastic toys containing excessive amounts of lead in the paint.

RC2, a toy company in the US, requested Dongguan-based Hansheng Wooden Products Factory to recall 1.5 million wooden toys for a similar reason in June.