Because we are concerned with the recent safety issues regarding children’s toys, we are providing this page to address these issues as they relate to the companies that make the toys we sell. All our toys meet or exceed U.S. toy testing standards.
Melissa & Doug Lead-Free Toys & Toy Safety
We have been assured that all Melissa and Doug products meet or exceed all US standards for safety. We are providing a statement issued recently by the Melissa and Doug manufacturing company. Please see below:
Please be assured, we test for lead VERY frequently.
It’s quite possible to make great quality children’s items in China, which meet all safety regulations, but the key point is that you have to test and inspect very frequently to be sure that your factories are always following your instructions explicitly. I assure you that’s exactly what we do.
From our experience, the key to doing this correctly is not simply to insist that your factories follow your instructions, but then to go one step further and to AUDIT, INSPECT, AND TEST very frequently. That is the most important part of the process, and it’s something our company has always taken VERY seriously.
Thanks again for asking, and for your support also.
Melissa & Doug are the parents of six children themselves, and are very meticulous about the safety of the toys that carry their name. A brief explanation of this process is described below:
Many Melissa & Doug toys are made in China. The toys are manufactured according to strict Melissa & Doug standards.
The toys are then inspected in the Chinese facilities by Melissa & Doug employees from the United States (Melissa & Doug LLC DOES NOT OUTSOURCE the testing for lead based paints and toxins.
The Melissa & Doug Company provides a full-time team of U.S. employees to do the actual testing in China)
The toys are again tested upon arrival in the Melissa and Doug warehouse in Connecticut. This stage of testing is not a requirement and is done by a different set of Melissa and Doug employees.
This step assures that no contamination occurred during the shipping process. After 2 stringent quality control procedures the toys are released to stores.
Maxim Toy Safety
Maxim Enterprise, Inc. has issued the following letter concerning the safety and testing of their toy products. Please see the following:
Dear Valued Customers,
This is to inform you that in light of recent recalls of train sets by Thomas & Friends/RC2 and various children’s toys by Fisher-Price/Mattel, both due to excessive contents of lead in the surface coating/paint; we, Maxim Company (Taiwan) Ltd., are specifically taking extra steps to review our work environment and have re-done every appropriate test on the materials we are currently using. We are taking these extra steps to see if any contaminations may have been unintentionally induced. To our delight, we have found that this has NOT happened and our added precaution have paid off.
Lead and other heavy metals have always been one of the major focus points under our regular surveillance program. Our standard practice are as follow:
1.We demand, every six (6) months, a lab-test-report for each product/color of all chemicals & plastics we purchased from our qualified suppliers.
2.In addition, we select random samples from our inventory for a third party lab to test every quarter.
3.When it comes to our end products, the toys we deliver to you have an unbiased third-party test-report certifying this particular type/model meets respective toy standards and were voluntarily submitted for this process. (When requested we also submit our products for retailer specific testing to make sure we adhere to your standards).
We are currently intensifying our quality assurance in addition to the above measures by testing heavy metals to 100% level, i.e. every batch of chemicals & plastics we receive. This is done so that there is no chance of a potential hazard making its way through our manufacturing process
To ensure that contamination is not possible within our facility, we require our entire production line to pay strict attention to all safety regulations which are also firmly regulated by our Quality Assurance Dept. In addition, to execute our environmental safety standards, our Auditing Dept. is assigned to keep a watchful eye over production so that regulations are being observed without compromise. Our recent self audits have proven to be very successful.
The goal of Maxim is to create a safe and imaginative environment for children everywhere. Our top priority has been to design toys that are safe, and superior in quality. For more than 40 years we have been bringing exceptional products and services to our customers, and are determined to continually provide you with our exceptional integrity and service.
Sincerely & truly
David S. L. Chai
Chairman
Guang Sheng Metal & Plastic Products Co., Ltd.
Maxim Company (Taiwan) Ltd.
Chuck Millington
President
Maxim Enterprise, Inc.
Division of Maxim (Taiwan) Ltd.
