Wal-Mart profit could be hurt by new supplier standards

BEIJING, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), said on Wednesday its profit could suffer from a plan to force suppliers to meet new quality and environmental standards.

"At the end of the day on some of these issues, does Wal-Mart end up having to take a lesser margin? Very possible," CEO Lee Scott told reporters.

He also said it was possible customers would end up paying slightly more for some products, although he did not give details.

Wal-Mart executives early on Wednesday told suppliers they would be held accountable to stricter standards and would have to assure their subcontractors also satisfied Wal-Mart specifications.

Wall-Mart, with more than 60,000 suppliers worldwide, procures roughly $9 billion worth of goods directly from China.

($=6.83 yuan) (Reporting by Kirby Chien, Writing by Ken Wills; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)