Hasbro, Inc., an international toy giant with a product listing that boasts everything from classics like the Easy-Bake Oven and GI Joe to My Little Pony and Star Wars collectibles, has been “unaffected” by the recent numerous lead paint recalls, according to a senior company executive.

Wayne Charness, a senior vice president at the Pawtucket-based toy manufacturer, noted that “Lead paint has been banned since the 1970s. The company put in rigid procedures and safety standards back then.”

Charness said that Hasbro, Inc. has manufacturing facilities in America, Europe and China, and requires the same standards no matter what country is involved. He said that the company’s board games are made at plants in the U.S. and Europe, while the company’s multitude of other toys, dolls and action figures are produced in China.

Charness said that Hasbro has longstanding business relationships with many of its overseas vendors. However, even the newer ones are subjected to what he called the company’s “very high safety standards.” In addition, he said that the company also has scores of its own employees based in the overseas markets, including Hong Kong and China, which helps ensure the company’s quality control benchmarks are being met. “We have our people there, day in and day out,” he stated.

The toy company, in business since 1923, has always believed in the value of product testing, Charness said.  For example, he said that when paint arrives at a factory from a vendor, it is tested, “by the vendor and by us.”  The toy product is then tested several more times at different stages of the manufacturing process. In addition, Charness said that Hasbro has an independent, third-party laboratory do “batch testing” of the products. “All of our products meet or exceed regulations,” he added.

Hasbro designs, manufactures, and markets games and toys in the U.S. and internationally that are sold at variety of stores and retailers and Internet-based e-tailers. In addition, the company offers its products under a multitude of brand names, including Playskool, Tonka, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Mr. Potato Head, Littlest Pet Shop, Fur Real Friends, Weebles and Gloworm.    

Of the current wave of bad publicity surrounding the toy industry and lead paint recalls, Charness noted that “Other companies are just putting procedures in place now that we’ve had for a long time.” He added, however, that “High standards are not enough. Companies must ensure that the standards are adhered to.”