A company in east China will today begin the country's first voluntary toy recall.

About 18,000 plastic toys made by Huanxi Toy Co Ltd, based in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, between June 20 of last year and March 1, contain small parts that pose choking hazards, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It's the first recall in the country since a new regulation requiring toy companies to voluntarily recall potentially dangerous products took effect in August," the announcement said.

The toys have not been sold outside China, it said.

Huanxi will recall the toys through its agents and will make public announcements through the media and advertisements telling consumers to not let children aged three or younger play with them, the announcement said.

Consumers can return the products to the outlets they purchased them from.

The AQSIQ reminded parents to consider product safety when buying toys, because children, especially those aged 3 or younger, are likely to swallow small ones.

It also forbids companies to sell unsafe products and requires them to undertake voluntary recalls of them.

Those who fail to follow these requirements will face legal penalties, the AQSIQ said.

(China Daily April 10, 2008)