First, food. Then toys. And now...clothes
First, food. Then toys. And now...clothes
NZ boy burnt after China-made pyjamas caught fire
By Clarissa Oon, CHINA CORRESPONDENT
UP IN FLAMES: Three-year-old New Zealand Jack Livingstone was burnt last month when his made-in-China pyjamas burst into flames as he sat by a gas fire. -- PHOTO: WAIKATO TIMES
BEIJING - A YOUNG boy in New Zealand suffered burns and underwent a skin graft after his made-in-China pyjamas caught fire early last month.
Three-year-old Jack Livingstone's parents had bought the pyjamas because the label said 'low fire danger', according to his father Mike.
The Warehouse, the largest retailer in the country, withdrew the pyjamas from its shelves over the weekend after a second boy suffered burns.
Besides investigating these two cases, the NZ authorities are also looking into allegations that some made-in-China clothing contains dangerous levels of a chemical.
Scientists in NZ found formaldehyde concentrations up to 900 times above the safety limit in clothing for children and adults.
Formaldehyde is sometimes applied to garments to prevent mildew, but too much can cause problems from skin rashes to cancer.
Made-in-China clothes are the latest Chinese exports to come under scrutiny following concerns over the safety of other exports.
Just last week, United States toy giant Mattel issued its second global recall of 18.2 million toys made and assembled in China because of their excessive use of lead paint.
But the NZ probe is the first time China's important textiles and clothing industry has been targeted.
This sector produced more than 13 per cent of the country's exports in the first half of this year.
China has responded to the recent safety concerns by tightening regulations, but has also hit back at the West.
One official called the furore over Chinese exports a 'new trend in trade protectionism'.
Responding to NZ's moves, a spokesman for China's textile trade chamber of commerce told The Straits Times yesterday the screening of textile imports is an 'accepted international practice'.
The chamber will 'act accordingly' once the results of the NZ probe are out, the spokesman said.
He reiterated official statements that most of China's exports are safe, but appealed to more developed countries to 'raise suggestions' to 'help Chinese companies lift the quality of its products'.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) says it has received no feedback on this issue. Said Case executive director Seah Seng Choon: 'We are certainly concerned and will write to the New Zealand Consumers Association to get more details before deciding the appropriate course of action.'
NZ boy burnt after China-made pyjamas caught fire
By Clarissa Oon, CHINA CORRESPONDENT
UP IN FLAMES: Three-year-old New Zealand Jack Livingstone was burnt last month when his made-in-China pyjamas burst into flames as he sat by a gas fire. -- PHOTO: WAIKATO TIMES
BEIJING - A YOUNG boy in New Zealand suffered burns and underwent a skin graft after his made-in-China pyjamas caught fire early last month.
Three-year-old Jack Livingstone's parents had bought the pyjamas because the label said 'low fire danger', according to his father Mike.
The Warehouse, the largest retailer in the country, withdrew the pyjamas from its shelves over the weekend after a second boy suffered burns.
Besides investigating these two cases, the NZ authorities are also looking into allegations that some made-in-China clothing contains dangerous levels of a chemical.
Scientists in NZ found formaldehyde concentrations up to 900 times above the safety limit in clothing for children and adults.
Formaldehyde is sometimes applied to garments to prevent mildew, but too much can cause problems from skin rashes to cancer.
Made-in-China clothes are the latest Chinese exports to come under scrutiny following concerns over the safety of other exports.
Just last week, United States toy giant Mattel issued its second global recall of 18.2 million toys made and assembled in China because of their excessive use of lead paint.
But the NZ probe is the first time China's important textiles and clothing industry has been targeted.
This sector produced more than 13 per cent of the country's exports in the first half of this year.
China has responded to the recent safety concerns by tightening regulations, but has also hit back at the West.
One official called the furore over Chinese exports a 'new trend in trade protectionism'.
Responding to NZ's moves, a spokesman for China's textile trade chamber of commerce told The Straits Times yesterday the screening of textile imports is an 'accepted international practice'.
The chamber will 'act accordingly' once the results of the NZ probe are out, the spokesman said.
He reiterated official statements that most of China's exports are safe, but appealed to more developed countries to 'raise suggestions' to 'help Chinese companies lift the quality of its products'.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) says it has received no feedback on this issue. Said Case executive director Seah Seng Choon: 'We are certainly concerned and will write to the New Zealand Consumers Association to get more details before deciding the appropriate course of action.'
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