More than 20 per cent of Chinese toys and baby clothes are substandard, according to the country's consumer safety watchdog, Chinese media reported today.
Some toys made by local factories were even potentially dangerous, the Beijing Newssaid, citing a nationwide inquiry by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
China is the world's largest exporter of toys.
The European Union and United States have both expressed concern about the safety of certain made-in-China toys.
Industrial waste, including dirty carpet fluff, paper and used instant-noodle packaging, was found stuffed inside some toys made by factories in the northern province of Hebei and sold at rock-bottom prices, the newspaper added.
"These fluffy toys with bacteria or even viruses in them could cause children to itch if they touch them for a short time, or even cause disease over the long term," the newspaper reported.
Some toys had parts that could be easily torn off and potentially injure children, it said, adding that it was not uncommon for children to get sick or die because of poor-quality toys.
The watchdog found that some baby clothes contained chemicals that could cause skin problems.