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Dangerous Barbie dolls?
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-07 11:09
Shanghai quarantine authorities say they are on the lookout for dangerous
Barbie dolls.
Barbie dolls are
sold in a local Carrefour hypermarket yesterday. Media reports in Germany
claimed some dolls contain the chemical phthalate, which is linked to
cancer.Local quarantine officials said they are keeping an eye on imported
dolls. [Shanghai Daily] |
The comment comes in response to media reports in Germany that said the dolls
contain the chemical phthalate, which has been linked to cancer.
A German magazine reported that 24 out of 30 toys it had checked at a
laboratory were contaminated with the chemical, including the popular doll,
raising concerns about its safety.
But the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said their
routine tests on imported toys don't cover phthalate, and there are no
government standards covering the chemical in toys.
"This is not the time to take any action as the news hasn't been verified and
the producer hasn't recalled its products," said bureau official Fang Yong.
Officials added that most toys China imports enter the country through
borders in southern Guangdong Province, and only a few enter through Shanghai.
The company licensed to sell the dolls on the mainland, Guangzhou Shangwei
Trade Co, said it is aware of the German reports, but wouldn't comment until it
heard from Mattel, the US company that produces the dolls. Mattel is expected to
make a public statement about the report today.
"In my personal opinion, it's irresponsible for the report not to clarify the
batch number but only to point out Barbie in a general way," said an official
surnamed Zheng with the company's local sales department.
Zheng said Barbie Dolls are mostly made in southern China and Indonesia.
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