Mattel recalls 12,00O toys: EU Commission

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Mattel Inc, the world's largest toymaker, is recalling 12,000 toys in Britain and Ireland as part of a global recall of 55,000 products due to excessive levels of lead paint found in the products.

A European Commission official told Reuters on Thursday that the EU executive had been informed by the company of the recall, which was later confirmed in a notice on the Mattel website (www.mattel.com).

"Mattel contacted us late on Wednesday to inform us that they would be recalling 12,000 toys which have too much lead paint," the Commission official said.

"These toys, known as Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat and part of the Fisher-Price brand, are only sold in the UK and Ireland (in Europe)."

Customers concerned should check Mattel's website for more details of the recall, the official said, adding that the products in question are also sold in the United States and Canada.

The recall is Mattel's fourth in the last six months and has led the EU executive to undertake a two-month review of its toy safety rules which is due to be completed next month.

"There is more work to be done to step up controls. The decision by Mattel to provide advance information to the European Commission and the concerned national authorities is a welcome step in the right direction," EU Consumer Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, said in a statement.

"I will discuss proposals for specific actions with my colleagues in the Competitiveness Council (of EU states) on 22 November 2007," Kuneva said.

Earlier this month, Mattel posted lower quarterly profit due to charges and disruptions from global recalls of potentially harmful toys made in China.

The Commission did not say where the toys involved in the latest recall were made.