China toy ban interim step, Govt to bring mandatory standards

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 government told the Lok Sabha on 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.