Mattel Apologizes to China Over Recall
Associated Press
September 21, 2007 9:57 a.m.
BEIJING – Toymaker Mattel issued an extraordinary apology to China on Friday over the recall of Chinese-made toys, saying most of the items were defective because of Mattel's design flaws rather than faulty manufacturing. The company added that it had recalled more lead-tainted Chinese toys than was justified.
The gesture by Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel's executive vice president for world-wide operations, came in a meeting with Chinese product safety chief Li Changjiang, who upbraided the company for maintaining weak safety controls.
The carefully worded apology, delivered with company lawyers present, underscores China's central role in Mattel's business. The world's largest toy maker has been in China for 25 years and about 65% of its products are made in China.
The fence-mending call came ahead of an expected visit to China by Mattel's chairman and chief executive, Robert A. Eckert. Following the massive recall, Mr. Eckert told U.S. lawmakers he wanted to see Mattel's mainland inspections first hand.
Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer of millions of Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars, because of concerns about lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. The "vast majority of those products that were recalled were the result of a design flaw in Mattel's design, not through a manufacturing flaw in China's manufacturers," Mr. Debrowski said. Lead-tainted toys accounted for only a small percentage of all toys recalled, he said. "We understand and appreciate deeply the issues that this has caused for the reputation of Chinese manufacturers," he said.
Mattel said in a statement its lead-related recalls were "overly inclusive, including toys that may not have had lead in paint in excess of the U.S. standards. The follow-up inspections also confirmed that part of the recalled toys complied with the U.S. standards."
Mr. Li reminded Mr. Debrowski that a large part of Mattel's annual profit comes from its factories in China. "This shows that our cooperation is in the interests of Mattel and both parties should value our cooperation," he said. "I really hope that Mattel can learn lessons and gain experience from these incidents." Mr. Li added that Mattel should "improve their control measures."
Since this summer's recall, Mattel has announced plans to upgrade its safety system by certifying suppliers and increasing the frequency of random, unannounced inspections. It also has fired several manufacturers.
online.wsj.com |
