Chenghai failed to eliminate toxic toys
China - Our report Toy maker Guangdong Alpha combines cartoons with injection molding tells a success story of quality and branding. But in the same city Chenghai, which houses about 3,000 toy makers, there are also large batches of low-quality toys being manufactured with waste plastics materials - including medical waste, according to a latest investigative report from the CCTV network.
The TV program aired a striking report last March, revealing how hazardous waste, without being properly treated, goes into children's toys. At the time, the local government issued a public apology and pledged to take corrective action. However, when the reporting team revisited the city nearly a year later, it discovered that nothing really had changed.
According to the report, more than 100 local plastic recyclers were engaged in the business of simply grinding, washing and air-drying plastic waste, including used medical supplies. These materials then go directly to local toy makers to be molded into toys.
In the largest toys distribution center in Chenghai, the report said, toys are being sold without China's national safety certification marks, many not even revealing the manufacturer's name or address. However, distributors offered to print fake safety certification marks on the packaging, if the buyer desired.
When the reporting team took some sample toys without safety certification mark to the local authorities, the staff asked the reporters to settle the issue directly with the seller.
Distributors added that the local authorities only focus on counterfeit issues of brand toys, not the quality of all toys.
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