More than 600 Chinese toy makers have had their export licenses revoked to ensure product quality, the State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) announced on Monday.

"We have thoroughly inspected all 3,000-plus toy makers for export during the rectification work that began last August," said AQSIQ Deputy Director Pu Changcheng at a press conference in Beijing.

In response to food and toy scares, China launched a four-month crackdown on product safety, particularly toys and foodstuffs.

"We have also set a complete quality test system. All toys, even those that are made based on designs and standards by importers, are subjected to safety checks," he told reporters.

The government also brought together toy makers to brush up on their knowledge of international product standards and safety awareness.

"The overall quality of Chinese-made toys will be further improved and safety will be fully guaranteed," said the official.

While acknowledging problems in some domestic manufacturers, Pu noted several toy recalls last year were either due to design flaws or change of standards by foreign importers.

China is the world's biggest toy exporter. In 2006, it sold around 22 billion toy items overseas, about 60 percent of the global total.

In addition to made-in-China toys, the country's domestic food safety also drew international concern.

Pu said through the product safety campaign, all food manufacturers and processors in China, which totals 98,000, had so far put a "QS" (quality safety) label on their products.

According to Bi Yu'an, another AQSIQ official, food products made in small workshops would be required to have another symbol instead of "QS" since they were sold in limited regions.

Pu said most of the "unqualified" or "shoddy" food products were from small workshops, which would be the focus of the quality watchdog this year.

The official also assured that food is safe during the coming Olympics.

"All foods provided to the athletes and referees are made by quality companies," he said.

"We will step up construction of inspection and quarantine institutions and make sure all foods for the Olympics are safe."

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)