Head of Chinese toy company kills self following recall, export ban

The head of a Chinese toy manufacturing company whose productswere the target of a massive recall in the U.S. because they contained lead-tainted paint has committed suicide.

Zhang Shuhong, who ran the Lee Der Industrial Co. Ltd.,was found hanged in his warehouse Monday morning.

His death comes days after the Chinese government announced a temporary ban on exports by the company.

Earlier this month, Mattel subsidiary Fisher-Price said it was recalling 967,000 toys — including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters — because their paint contained excessive amounts of lead. The Fisher-Price recall involved 83 types of plastic preschool toys made bythe Chinese vendor and sold in the United States between May and August.

Asupplier, Zhang's best friend, sold Lee Der fake paint that was used in the toys,the Southern Metropolis Daily, astate-run newspaper, reported.

"The boss and the company were harmed by the paint supplier, the closest friend of our boss," a manager surnamed Liu was quoted as saying.

It is common for disgraced officials to commit suicide in China.

The recall by Mattel came just two months after RC2 Corp., a New York company, recalled 1.5 million Chinese-made wooden railroad toys and set parts from its Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway product line because of lead paint.

CBC's Michel Cormier said China has acknowledged the export of potentially dangerous products is a massive problem that will take years to solve.

Millions of manufacturers export products around the worldthat are not properly monitored or inspected. Chinese authorities have promised tighter controls. Along with banning two toy manufacturers from exporting toys, China has recently banned 18 food products for export.

But Cormier said Chinese officials also say the Western media is making too much ofthe scandal. They argue that exporting unsafe products is a worldwide problem andthat somemay be trying to embarrass Beijingbefore the Olympics.