Vietnam will inspect the quality of toys nationwide in Aug and Sept on concerns about low-quality Chinese products, which have made their way to every corner across the country. The Ministry of Science and Technology has asked all cities to tighten control over quality of toys after market watchdogs detected a large number of products violating regulations on safety for children. Inspections in 2012 showed that thousands of samples were unstamped by authorized agencies and thousands of other models contained substances such as lead, phthalate and formaldehyde that exceed the allowed level and threaten consumers’ health. However, due to their low prices and diversified models, made-in-China toys remain a favorite choice for many local customers, who prefer them over traditional Vietnamese toys. The situation has made promoting traditional toys and local culture more difficult. (Thanh Nien – Young People May 2 p2)
