China toy ban interim step, Govt to bring mandatory standards

New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) The ban on imports of toys from
China is an interim measure till mandatory standards for toys
sold in India are put in place, the Indian government told the
Lower House Tuesday.

"The current BIS standards are not mandatory," Minister
of State of Industry Ashwani Kumar said while replying to
supplementaries during Question Hour.

He said a Committee of Secretaries is examining the BIS
standards and would come out with recommendations on standards
which would be mandatory for toys sold in the country.

The prohibition on import of toys from China has been
imposed in response to concerns of health and safety faced by
users of Chinese toys, Kumar said.

The minister said every step would be taken to protect
the domestic toy industry, a majority of which operate in the
small scale sector.

"We will work with domestic toy makers to ensure that the
quality of toys manufactured by them is of international
standards," Kumar said.

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has
implemented a national programme for development of the Indian
toy industry jointly with United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation.

The programme sought to promote production of safe toys
in India, Kumar said. PTI SKU