Japan is No. 1 in the world in a consumerperception survey by Singapore-based, Asia-centric research company The Research Pacific Group.

The firm polled 1,752 consumers aged 24 and above in seven Asian cities - namely Singapore, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Shanghai - about their opinions on 11 countries as manufacturing centres.

Respondents were asked to measure the safety of a wide range of products, like 'children's toys, packaged foods, airlines and car accessories', said Ms Koh Wan Lyn, a senior research analyst at Research Pacific.

The United States, Britain and Australia are world No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Ms Koh said that the poll was 'designed to understand consumer attitudes towards a product's country of origin'.

Explaining Singapore's commendable ranking in the poll, she said: 'Singapore has a very clean track record when it comes to its products because of its regulating agencies. They ensure that its manufacturers comply with international standards and adhere to strict safety regulations.'

The airline and medical sectors were two categories in which Singapore scored well. Ms Koh attributed this to the 'good reputation of Singapore Airlines, and the medical and research infrastructure provided by organisations like A*Star'. China is considered the least safe, with 28 per cent of the respondents deeming it a 'very unsafe' producer. India is the second-most unsafe, with 13 per cent voting it as 'very unsafe'.

Housewife Ang Chay Meng, 55, said: 'I've tried not to buy Chinesemade household products since the melamine milk scandal broke out late last year.' -- MYPAPER