After millions of Mattel toys produced in China were pulled of shelves in the United States, Canada and other markets, Hong Kong could be the next affected region in the following months, its exports being threatened to reduce significantly, experts said on Sunday.

Analysts in Hong Kong evaluated that the toy exports will take a serious blow in the next period and advised manufacturers to expand their market orientation towards other regions across the globe.

According to the South China Morning Post newspaper, officials from the Trade Development Council (TDC) are concerned that Mattel’s decision to recall toys manufactured in China could also have effects on Hong Kong’s toy exports that represent about 3 per cent of total exports.

The TDC said no problems were reported with Hong Kong-made products and firms in the region “have a good track record on safety and quality.” The body that aims at developing and diversifying markets for Hong Kong companies encouraged toy producers to set their sites on other blooming markets in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

These latest developments prompted businessmen to take a closer look at their products and the activity of suppliers, worrying that a similar scandal that brought Mattel in an unwanted spotlight could also grip their companies.

About 1.5 million toys covered by paint containing potentially dangerous quantities of lead were initially recalled by the California-based company, but other products with different flaws were also pulled of shelves during the past weeks.

All toys were manufactured by Chinese contractors, one of the co-owners of a company involved in this scandal committing suicide last week after regulators decided to ban the company's products from export.

Authorities in the United States put several Chinese products on their black list, a serious blow for the Asian industry that exports many of its products to North America. The main issue brought in discussion when companies tried to find a solution was the large number of subcontractors, a fact that hampers the ensuring of quality standards.