Toxic Toys – Chinese Experience

There is global outcry over the toxic toys being imported from China millions of which were withdrawn from the market due to the excessive lead and cadmium content in the paints used in the manufacture. Lead is neurotoxic and cadmium is nephrotoxic and a known carcinogen. Situation is no way different in India. As on today, Indian markets, particularly road-side out-lets in cities and rural markets, are overflowing with the cheap so-called home-made bright coloured toys which are made without adhering to any safety standards. Yes, the toys are cheap and are affordable by the majority poor in the country. The manufacture, even of the branded ones, is suspected to be not regulated and there is no Act which stipulates the requirement of quality of the toys to comply with any Indian Standards. But there is MRTP (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices) Rules, which stipulates providing all the information with respect to the company which has manufactured the toy, its cost, date of manufacture, etc. Unfortunately, these details are not reliable and one can buy such toys from the roadside at one-third or half the rate written on the package. Quality of the toys is bad. The state of consumer watch and awareness in India is pathetic. There is a ministry to deal with consumer affairs! What is the outcome? Nothing worthwhile really comes out of the forums attached to the ministry. Manufacturers get away with anything. They know the tricks!