China suspends aqua dot toy export

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- China has suspended the export of Aqua Dot bead toys after a massive U.S. recall for toxic drug contamination, a report said.

The suspension was announced by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, Xinhua reported Saturday. The agency said it has sealed the toy maker but did not disclose its name.

The report said the action was taken after 4.2 million of the picture set toys were recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because they contain an adhesive solvent which simulates the drug gamma hydroxy if swallowed.

CNN quoted a CPSC spokesman as saying scientists found the popular toy contains a chemical, which after being metabolized, converts into the toxic "date rape" drug. The report said the drug caused some children who swallowed the craft toys to vomit and lose consciousness.

The beads, sold in the United States since April as "Aqua Dots," have also been distributed in Australia as "Bindeez Beads, the report said.

U.S. officials and retailers voluntarily recalled at least 69,000 Chinese-made toys in October because of concerns over excessive amounts of lead paint.