The Myths of China and Toys

I recently read a Commentary written by the past CEO / Chairman of Hasbro Alan Hassenfeld who's Grandfather also founded the company in 1923. The purpose of this article was as he says " providing perspective of someone who cares deeply about the toy industry"

I agree while there has been a number of recalls for a variety reasons, many are deserved recalls, but as I did post in the past, many are not. Many are just happeneing based on lack of commensense on the Parents.

Mr Hassenfeld grew up in the toy business, my first thought was he was trying to " save face " just perfectly timed for the holiday season, and than after reading his commentary, this really is a guy who is not a reporter, but someone who understands the situation better than anyone. But lets not be Naive here, he also has a vested interest in the success of Hasbro.

While he makes no apologies for the toy industry or even for China, he wanted to straigten out what he thinks are some pretty broadly held misconceptions.


I want to share them with my readers below :

( please note that the below commentary was found at Forbes.com )

--Misconception: Product design and quality issues are endemic in the toy industry.
--Fact: All of the products recalled so far in 2007 amount to about nine-tenths of 1% of the 3 billion toys sold in the United States each year. There are many hundreds of toy brands (500 in the Toy Industry Association), but only four accounted for 75% of all the products recalled. And just two of those four accounted for about 54% of the toys recalled for excess lead in their paint.


--Misconception: China is one of the main culprits in all these recalls; it is their fault that our children are in danger.
--Fact: That is simply not true. Companies manufacture, import and sell products; countries do not. The Consumer Product Safety Commission rightly holds those who order the toys and bring them into the country responsible for the safety of those toys. Equally important is the fact that about 74% of the toys recalled were for design-related issues, not manufacturing-related ones. The designs are the primary responsibility of those who order the toys, not only of those who manufacture them. Let us take responsibility for our actions and not blame others


--Misconception: China is responsible for the loss of American jobs in the toy industry.
--Fact: Again, not true; China is simply the latest country where production has concentrated so that its cheaper labor costs can translate into lower prices to consumers. Toy production started moving out of the United States over 50 years ago, going first to Japan, then to Taiwan and Korea and other Asian countries. It was in the mid-1980s that China began its export of toys.


--Misconception: The toy industry is so focused on reducing costs that it is willing to use factories that mistreat their workers.
--Fact: The worldwide toy industry is an acknowledged leader in ensuring that workers in its suppliers' factories are treated fairly. The International Council of Toy Industries' (ICTI) Code of Business Practices, one of the first such codes in the world, obligates its members to treat workers fairly. Through its ICTI CARE Process, a comprehensive system has been developed to ensure that factories adhere to the standards established by the Code.

In the past three years, nearly 1,200 factories employing over a million workers have entered the program. Its Seal of Compliance, issued to factories who have achieved those standards, are accepted by just about all of the major toy retailers in the U.S. There is still much to do, as this is a long journey that brings retailers, brands, civil society and government together. For now, we must continue to monitor and audit all factories in the system, but our primary objective is to build capacity through education programs. Our stated goal is one global standard for the ethical manufacturing of children's products.

His final thought is this: Why shouldn't there be one worldwide set of safety standards and safety testing procedures? That way, all countries would adhere to one proven standard, so that we could assure parents everywhere that the toys they give to their children are safe. If I could have one wish granted, it would be this one: that all children have safe toys to play with--no matter where they live.


Please share your thoughts on this.
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