No toying with safety

Toy manufacturers finally get serious about quality control; set standards for themselves, as the government fails to lay down the law

Toy manufacturers finally get serious about quality control; set standards for themselves, as the government fails to lay down the law

In the wake of the scandal over toxic China-made toys and heightened awareness about safety, Indian toy makers have finally realised that quality control is no child's play. The All India Toy Manufacturers Association (TAITMA), dissatisfied by the government measures, has now taken matters into its own hands.

CHINA KA MAAL SASTE MEIN: A ban has been imposed on China-made toys in the country. PICS/BIPIN KOKATE

As the guidelines of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are not mandatory (see Paper tiger), TAITMA has decided to make the European quality standards a must for all its members. They are also working on a symbol to denote a tested product.

"The ban on the import of Chinese toys not only led to huge losses for the toy industry, but we also ended up losing the trust of loyal consumers. To regain the trust, we have fixed the norms for all Indian manufacturers," said Manish Kukreja, owner of Min Toy Private Limited, Shinsei Industries.u00a0
"We are in the process of deciding the symbol that will help customers identify the tested products," he added.

Private testing

Ashok Jain, president of TAITMA, confirmed the association's plans, saying, "We have decided to get our products tested in a private lab rather than compromise on quality. There are only two government labs and they lack even the basic infrastructure. But the biggest problem is they are not internationally recognised."

Leading international toy maker Mattel Inc, which recently weathered a scandal over toxic toys, is among the manufacturers who have welcomed the move. "From product design to the manufacturing process, our company examines the product at all stages. All toys imported by Mattel meet the required standards," added Mattel's spokesperson.u00a0

But not every one is as happy. A retailer at Crawford market, grumbled, "Indian manufactures quote high prices, unlike the Chinese. There is more demand for the Chinese products."

Paper tiger
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines are similar to the European standards, but don't have any powers. "We have issued a set of standards (IS 9873) for the toy manufacturers, which includes three steps. But these standards are not u00a0made mandatory," said a BIS official from Delhi.

The testing points
>>Colours used on toys for toxic contents, if any
>>Shapes of toys for sharp edges
>>Quality of sticker used on toys (should be non toxic)
>>Warnings mentioned on toys
>>Flammability

Welcome move
If people are ready to pay the price, it is our duty to give them a good quality product.
Jayesh Rambhia Owner of Premsons Plastic

This move will help the common man. After the recent buzz about toxic toys in the market, we have become very selective. We prefer going to branded stores to ensure that we get non-toxic toys. However, we have to pay a steep price for safety
Twinkle Thakur Singh Mother of a four-year-old