Mattel recalls more toys over lead paint fears

Christopher Devereux, a British businessman based in Guangzhou, China for five years, said that there were still plenty of dubious manufacturers in the country. An industry expert, he is managing director of ChinaSavvy, which helps foreign buyers to find Chinese factories that make products such as plastic parts. He said numerous Chinese factories were making high-quality products at unbeatable prices.

But foreign buyers must constantly monitor and inspect their Chinese suppliers, Mr Devereux said - a lesson learnt by Mattel.

Mattel said that it was working in co-operation with the UK Trading Standards, US Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulatory agencies. It is also working with retailers worldwide to identify and remove affected products from retail shelves.