Wal-Mart Tackles Toy Safety Problems
Wal-Mart officials said they are asking toy suppliers to submit recent safety documentation or re-test their products in response to the wave of recalled products coming from China. The Washington Post reports that the company has instituted a five-step plan to improve the safety of its products, called the Toy Safety Net Program. It has also pledged to work with the Toy Industry Association on new safety standards and help Chinese leaders who are implementing new safety procedures.
About 80 percent of the toys sold in the United States are made in China. Wal-Mart controls about one-third of the toy retail market in the U.S.
Wal-Mart Watch, a watchdog group, said the retailer’s efforts do not go far enough, saying “Wal-Mart’s not addressing the larger problem of why Chinese toy suppliers are cutting corners with lead paint and melamine. It's because they're under enormous pressure from buyers like Wal-Mart, and they're sacrificing child safety to keep costs low.”