Beijing, Nov. 10 (Reuters): China’s quality control watchdog said today initial investigations had found bead toys recently recalled in the US and Australia contained toxic substances, the Xinhua news agency reported.

US safety officials recalled about 4.2 million Aqua Dots toys this week for possibly containing a “date rape” drug. Australia too announced a ban on the popular toy, sold there in a version called “Bindeez”, and Spain also announced a recall.

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said the toys, products of Australia-based Moose Enterprises, were manufactured by the Wangqi Product Factory in China’s southern city of Shenzhen.

China froze exports of the “Aqua Dots” on Friday and the AQSIQ said today it had also suspended the toy maker’s export licence. The quality watchdog, battling a string of international recalls, had promised a swift investigation.