Mattel CEO Accepts Responsibility, Sort Of, For Toxic Toy Recalls

The mistake Mattel made was failing to oversee its subcontractors in China, Mattel CEO Robert Eckert told Senators in a hearing about the recent spate of toy recalls due, primarily, to toxic lead paint. "We are by no means perfect," Eckert said, according to an Associated Press story quoting his prepared testimony.

"But we have tackled difficult issues before and demonstrated an ability to make change for the better, not only within our own company but for the broader industry." But, according to Bloomberg News, Eckert's emphasis was on blaming the subcontractors for failing to follow procedures. Eckert was credited with turning Mattel around, increasing profits for shareholders. The degree to which his ability to make money rested on lax oversight of contractors using cheap toxic substitutes remains to be seen.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which reportedly has a single employee responsible for testing suspect toys, also came under renewed fire for its inability -- given years of budget and staff cuts -- to ensure the stream of imports entering the United States are safe. "For years CPSC has been neglected and under-funded, resulting in reductions of staff levels and weakened standards," the AP quoted Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., as saying.

He chairs the Senate Appropriations panel on financial services and general government. Earlier this week, a Cabinet-level committee released a strategy designed to shift the emphasis from inspecting imports of food and other products -- which Bush Administration officials have said is impossible, given the volume -- to setting up systems that better ensure that quality products are leaving foreign shores.

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