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US toy manufacturer Mattel has announced another recall of Chinese-made toys after detecting "impermissible levels of lead" in Barbie and Fischer-Price play sets.

The company said 530,000 toys in the US and 318,000 around the world would be affected by the move.

The toy maker detected the safety concerns in 11 toys but stressed that Barbie dolls were not affected by the recall. Mattel said the toys had been produced by a contract vendor, Holder Plastic Company which subcontracted painting work to two Chinese firms - Dong Lian Fa (DLF) and Yip Sing (YS).

It added that the two Chinese firms were "no longer producing toys for Mattel".

"Mattel's investigation revealed that the subcontractors painted the affected toys between March 2007 and August 2007," Mattel said.

"However Mattel is being cautious and recalling the entire production of the seven toys painted by the subcontractors. Therefore, toys manufactured beginning in October 2006 are included within the recall. The toys being recalled were sold at retail between November 2006 and August 2007."

Production defects were also detected in toys sold under the brand name Geotrax after a company that "is no longer in business" was subcontracted work by another contract vendor.

Mattel said it was introducing a new quality control system to conduct tests on products throughout the manufacturing process.

Chief executive officer Robert Eckert apologised for the recall saying: "In August we promised that we'd continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys through extensive testing of finished products, thorough investigation of our vendors and the implementation of a strengthened three-point check system.

"As a result of our ongoing investigation we discovered additional affected products. Consequently, several subcontractors are no longer manufacturing Mattel toys. We apologise again to everyone affected and promise that we will continue to focus on ensuring the safety and quality of our toys,"

A spokesperson for the company said it was working with the US consumer product safety commission, regulatory agencies and retailers worldwide to withdraw the products.

In August Mattel recalled over 18 million toys worldwide over fears of excessive lead paint levels in toys linked to firms in China. Sarge Die cast toys from the film Cars as well as products sold under the Batman and Barbie brands were recalled.