Mattel apologizes to China, pledging to take responsibility for
defective toys
September 21, 2007
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/6268472.html

Thomas Debrowski, an executive of Mattel, apologized Friday to a
senior Chinese official for the inconvenience it has caused to Chinese
consumers after recalling millions of China-made toys and pledged to
take responsibility, according to a Xinhua witness.

During his talk with Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration
of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Debrowski admitted
that the vast majority of its recalled toys were of design flaws
rather than the manufacturing errors of China.

According to a press release announced by a lawyer of the Mattel, 17.4
million toys have been recalled because of loose magnets and those
recalled because of impermissible levels of lead numbered 2.2
millions.

The magnets related recalls were due to emerging issues concerning
design and this has nothing to do with whether the toys were
manufactured in China, said the press release.

"Mattel does not require Chinese manufacturers to be responsible for
the magnets related recalls due to design problems," it said.

It also admitted that Mattel's lead-related recalls were "overly
inclusive" as the company were "committed to applying the highest
standards of safety for its products".

"The follow-up inspections also confirmed that part of the recalled
toys complied with the U.S. standards."

The same high standards to recalls of its products have been applied
in the EU and other countries despite the fact that some of these
products may have met local safety standards. its said.

Source: Xinhua