Customers and law and industrial experts have been clamoring for such a system, and it was recommended in a report by an authorized research group with Beijing-based Renmin University of China.

Officials from the State's product quality supervision authority said his department is studying how to deal with defective products that are circulating in markets and have the potential to hurt their users.

"To protect the interests and health of customers, we are going to draft a special regulation in this regard very soon," said Yu Xianzhong, director-general of the Department of Quality under the State General Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine.

"The future regulation will also play a bigger role in tightening producers' awareness of product quality and urge them to take necessary precautions before the products enter into the markets," Yu said.

The research group said the recalling regulation, in effect in industrialized countries for years, will be based on the Law of Product Quality and the Law of Protection of Customers' Interest.

"The laws have stipulated that all products likely to endanger people's health and safety will be brought in line with the national and industrial standards," said Guo He, a professor at Renmin University of China.

Guo said producers who don't voluntarily recall their defective products will be forced to do so.

His group also suggested that all the defective products' manufacturers should clearly tell customers the product's function, potential danger and how and when the danger is likely to occur.

But some industrial experts said the timing is wrong now to unveil a recall system because the selling process of some products are not complete, and most producers do not have adequate contracts with buyers. They believe the system, albeit well-conceived, cannot be enforced yet.

Still, the majority said the regulation should be drafted urgently.

(China Daily November 13, 2001)