IKEA recalls drawers deemed dangerous

Swedish home furnishings maker is recalling 1.66 million chests of drawers with potential safety risks that it sold on the Chinese mainland, China's top quality authority announced on Tuesday.

The drawer units were sold between 1999 and this year and involve a variety of types. According to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the drawers may tip over and cause death or injury to children if not properly fixed to the wall.

IKEA said on Tuesday it would help Chinese customers anchor the product to the wall. They can also return the furniture to IKEA for a full refund, it said.

The drawers are safe as long as they are properly fixed to the wall, the company said.

When the company initially recalled the drawers in North America, it said the decision was based on international standards applicable in that region and that the recall will not involve other markets, including China, where the same products were sold.

More than 35 million drawer units were recalled in the United States and Canada, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

After media reports that IKEA did not plan to recall the drawers it sold in China, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision and the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau had discussions with executives at IKEA China and demanded the company assume responsibility and ensure the safety and quality of its products in China.

The Shenzhen Consumers' Association in Guangdong province, said in early July that it demanded that IKEA's branch in Shenzhen cooperate in an investigation of the matter.

The association urged the company not to discriminate against Chinese consumers and to initiate a recall.

On Thursday, IKEA started notifying Chinese consumers who have bought Malm drawers of recall measures.

wangxiaodong@chinadaily.com.cn