Surprise!

"At a time when Chinese imports are under fire for being contaminated or defective, federal records suggest that China is not the only country that has problems with its exports. In fact, federal inspectors have stopped more food shipments from India and Mexico in the last year than they have from China, an analysis of data maintained by the Food and Drug Administration shows. The F.D.A. database does not necessarily capture a full and accurate picture of product quality from other countries. For one thing, only one year of data is available on the agency’s Web site, and F.D.A. officials declined to provide more data without a formal Freedom of Information request, a process that can take months, if not years. In addition, the F.D.A. inspects only about 1 percent of the imports that fall under its jurisdiction. So the agency may miss many of the products that are contaminated or defective. The F.D.A. database also fails to disclose the quantity of products that are refused, so it is impossible to know whether just a box of cucumbers was refused or a shipload. The agency, he said, was currently working on a plan to revise how it monitored food safety, both for domestic food and imported, which should be released in the fall. The plan will depend on the F.D.A. working with foreign governments and American companies to identify potential risks to the food supply before they reach ports in the United States."

It isn't surprising, but it is a bit unnerving. My hope and expectation is that importers pay attention to the quality of items they are importing. The federal government doesn't have the time or resources (nor do I want them spending my money to acquire the resources) to test every item that comes into the US.

A western manufacturer has federal/state/local agency(ies) standing over him applying pressure on quality issues. Right by their side are his insurance company, banker, a swarm of hungry plaintiffs' attorneys and any number of other social checks and balances to ensure that lease agreement on the Benz and the wife's Neiman Marcus card are always at the forefront of his mind lest his conscience go on holiday.

These checks and balances don't exist in third world countries. Most of the time, the only thing standing in the way of you and a faulty third world break system is the western importer.

There are a number of industries that require some form of testing certification; however, this concept needs to expanded to most other industries, even as it drives up costs. This would not only level the playing field a bit, but citizens of the China's of the world would start demanding the same level of quality in their own products.

And that would be a good thing.