(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-21 19:15

Thomas Debrowski, an executive of Mattel, apologized Friday to a senior Chinese official for the inconvenience it has caused to Chinese consumers after recalling millions of China-made toys and pledged to take responsibility, according to a Xinhua witness.

During his talk with Li Changjiang, head of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Debrowski admitted that the vast majority of its recalled toys were of design flaws rather than the manufacturing errors of China.

According to a press release announced by a lawyer of the Mattel, 17.4 million toys have been recalled because of loose magnets and those recalled because of impermissible levels of lead numbered 2.2 millions.

The magnets related recalls were due to emerging issues concerning design and this has nothing to do with whether the toys were manufactured in China, said the press release.

"Mattel does not require Chinese manufacturers to be responsible for the magnets related recalls due to design problems," it said.

It also admitted that Mattel's lead-related recalls were "overly inclusive" as the company were "committed to applying the highest standards of safety for its products".

"The follow-up inspections also confirmed that part of the recalled toys complied with the US standards."

The same high standards to recalls of its products have been applied in the EU and other countries despite the fact that some of these products may have met local safety standards. its said.