Once India's toy shops were full of squeaky ducks, tigers and dragons - all made cheaply in China. But stocks are running low, now that the Indian government has extended a ban on imported toys without international safety certificates. But Indian toy manufacturers don't need certificates. So is the ban prompted by concern for youngsters or is it protectionism?

The Indian authorities have decided that a ban on imported toys without an internationally approved safety certificate should be extended indefinitely. The country hit hardest by the ruling is China – which produces literally millions of cheap toys for export. But retailers in India aren’t happy either.

One describes how he hasn’t been able to buy any new stock since January. He believes the safety ruling amounts to nothing more than a ban on Chinese toys – imposed to protect India’s manufacturers. “Poor quality toys should be banned” he agrees, “but we should not ban the whole lot of them”. Cheap imports are vital for retailers and if the ban’s not eased he says he’ll be put out of business.

Local demand soars
But what’s bad for local retailers is proving a boon for local manufacturers. The Indian Toy association says India’s toy-makers have seen their production levels jump by as much as 30 per cent in some cases. Model car-maker Santi Toys, for instance, has staff working overtime 7 days a week to keep up with demand.

Protection
The Indian authorities say the measure is intended to protect youngsters – but the local toy industry is not subject to any such regulation, and Indian economist Suvrokamal Dutta believes it’s a form of protectionism.

The local toy industry has been threatened by Chinese imports over the past few years, he says, with closures and businesses running at a loss. And toy-makers aren’t the only one facing stiff competition from China – the silk, tea and steel industries all have to compete with cheap imports.

Mr Dutta believes competition will only increase in the future and it’s a fifty-fifty chance which country’s industries will come out on top. But as far as the toy wars are concerned, China’s on the losing side.

 Listen to a Newsline report by correspondent Suzanne Koster

Photo by crispy dewdrops (at flickr.com)