"The German Association of Technical Supervision (TUV) believes that Chinese toys are safe for export," said Thomas Oberst, the association's spokesman in an interview with people.com.cn yesterday (August 22).

"Both China and Europe have good and bad products. We should avoid a one-sided approach and look at overall problems," explained Oberst. TUV believes that the Chinese toys are in their safest stage since TUV began to conduct product quality inspection work in Asia 30 years ago.

"I don't agree with stereotyped reports which are always portraying China negatively. Legal violators happen everywhere, not just in China but also among German manufacturers. The Chinese people are perfectly competent as the rest of the world in producing quality goods," commented Mr. Bauer, a TUV expert.

Germany has three independent technical associations in the western (Rhine), the southern and the northern parts of the country. The association in the Rhine lands has 24 laboratories in China with 1,400 staff members.

China has recently been barraged with criticisms concerning export products. The recalls ordered by overseas countries have created huge economic losses for national manufacturers. A current recall of 967,000 toys ordered by the United States may have caused the suicide of a Guangdong toy manufacturer in the beginning of this month.

The national toy industry secures an annual output of more than 100 billion yuan, making China the biggest toy exporter in the world, according to a report in last month's Guang Ming Daily.

(China.org.cn by Wu Jin, August 23, 2007)