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Chinese Goods Flunk Gov't Safety Tests

Nearly 20% of domestic consumer products can't meet quality standards

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 4, 2007 3:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Chinese government acknowledged today what people around the world suspected—many products manufactured by the world's largest exporter of consumer goods are unsafe. One-fifth of its manufactured wares fail to meet government safety standards, a regulatory agency said in a posting on its website. Despite the findings, which did not cover exports, spokesmen continue to tout Chinese product safety.

A survey of 7,200 types of products from 6,362 companies showed a rejection rate of nearly 19%, Bloomberg reports, compared to 5% in the US. Chinese manufacturers and regulators are already under fire for scandals surrounding everything from deadly pet food to tainted toothpaste; as the country's international profile rises even more, trading partners are pushing for beefed-up standards.

A Chinese vendor works near his products at a market selling seafood in Beijing, China, Sunday, July 1, 2007. China called a U.S. block on its seafood 'indiscriminate' and 'unacceptable' and urged closer cooperation on food safety between the two trading partners, state media said Saturday. (AP Photo/Ng Han...
A Chinese vendor works near his products at a market selling seafood in Beijing, China, Sunday, July 1, 2007. China called a U.S. block on its seafood 'indiscriminate' and 'unacceptable' and urged closer...   (Associated Press)
Officials check some 90 barrels of bean sprouts at a workshop without a business licence in Xiamen, in southeast China's Fujian province Thursday June 28, 2007. The workshop was found to have used bleaching powder to lighten the color of the bean sprouts. A government spokesman guaranteed the safety of...
Officials check some 90 barrels of bean sprouts at a workshop without a business licence in Xiamen, in southeast China's Fujian province Thursday June 28, 2007. The workshop was found to have used bleaching...   (Associated Press)
A worker selects products at the production line of Wahaha Tuesday July 3, 2007 in Hangzhou, China. After 11 years in a showcase joint venture, China's biggest beverage makers, Wahaha and French food conglomerate Group Danone SA are feuding over the use of the Chinese company's brand name and other...
A worker selects products at the production line of Wahaha Tuesday July 3, 2007 in Hangzhou, China. After 11 years in a showcase joint venture, China's biggest beverage makers, Wahaha and French food...   (Associated Press)
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