Lead Paint
Since all of C3's replicas are manufactured in China, is anything being done to monitor the paint being applied to these replicas? It seems everything being imported from there is having a problem with lead base paint. I want to be sure that these are safe to be around kids. What are the quality control procedures to check for this before being distributed to collectors all over the world? Is there an issue with safety?
Thank you for a very good question and I am going to offer an answer now and will come back with more info later.
1.) Funrise / Matrix will not allow this too happen. Being first and foremost a Toy company the standards are very strick and always adhered to. Paint is checked when it arrives at the production facility, when it is delivered to the production line and again when the product is finished.
2.) The lead paint problem was limited to only a couple to companies a couple of years ago and quickly corrected and is also moinorted by the Chinese goverment as well as the Toy Industry of America against even stricter standads today.
3.) Code 3 Collectible models are not toys, they are adult collectibles and the statement on the bottom of each and every package states
“THIS MODEL IS NOT A TOY AND IS SOLD AS A COLLECTIBLE ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY CHILDREN”
This is standard in the Collectible category. Remember that to create the highly detailed models we need to use very small parts for mirrors, lights, antennas etc. These small parts could never be included on a toy truck. The industry has several age levels advising parents on the appropriate age for the particular product (i.e. not recommended for children under 3).
Code 3 Models are not intended for young children but for adult collectors. Whenever I give a collector model to the parents of a small child I advise them it is for display only and not to allow the young child to play with the model. Display on a shelf out of reach of the child or keep it in a safe spot until old enough to enjoy the collector nature of the model.
JHD
