China’s toys recalled, CEO suicides, toothpaste recalled again, …

Posted on August 13, 2007
Filed Under International News |

China recalls, recalls, and recalls. I’m sure it’s not the first time you heard the words “China” and “recall” together (well by now, at least four times). China is being faced with immense pressure on the safety of its export products. The recent recall of Fisher-Price toys (Dora, Diego, and Sesame Street characters) was among the largest of recalls in recent months. The CEO of the manufacturing plant, where these toys were painted, was reported to have committed suicide today.

“When I rushed there around 5 p.m., police had already sealed off the area. I saw that our boss had two deep marks in his neck,” a manager was quoted saying.

Cheung Shu-hung, co-owner of Lee Der Industrial Co., apparently hung himself in his factory. The motive behind is suicide was not given, but I’m sure it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out. Cheug, and his company Lee Der, was under immense pressure by Chinese officials (who are eagerly trying to protect the country’s crucial export industry from a bad reputation of being potentially unsafe/dangerous). They have been trying to regain international consumer confidence, after a handful of recalls in the recent past, with new regulations, inspections, and increased pressure on manufacturers, like Cheung himself. Cheung’s Lee Der was temporarily banned from exporting products, causing him financial stress and damage.

Chinese goods have been under fire after a chemical additive in pet food caused the death of some pets in the United States; and toxic ingredients were found in a long list of products, from seafood to toothpaste, which were recalled or rejected by a number of countries worried about safety.

I guess we are just facing another drawback of globalization and increased international trade. I honestly don’t think it’s much of a reason to worry anymore. Sure we need to be concerned about the safety of current products, but I doubt we will be hearing much of “China” and/or “recalls” too much in the future. The reason - Chinese businesses and officials are just as concerned about their success as we are concerned about our health and safety. Because of the increased pressures they are facing internationally, they WILL without a doubt adapt; meaning they will have “safety” on the top of their list of requirements to succeed. Therefore our concerns, and their motives, will align and prove to be mutually beneficial.

A leading supplier of toiletries for luxury hotels, Gilchrist & Soames, recalled complimentary tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste worldwide today after tests proved contamination of potentially toxic chemicals. Full story here.

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