BEIJING -- China, the world's largest toy producer and exporter, is building a nationwide traceability system that will verify the safety and quality of products, Xinhua learnt Monday.

A ceremony was held in Beijing Sunday marking the launch of the system.

Yang Dayue, a quality inspection expert, said the system will not only help track the origin of a toy and hold its producer accountable in case of a problem, but will also help toy manufacturers improve quality control through the use of big data.

In October 2016, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine started a pilot program in Shantou City,Guangdong Province, a hub of toy manufacturing.

A traceability system for China's toy industry will help protect consumer interests and make made-in-China toys more competitive globally, according to industrial sources.

The system is based on a big data platform and uses Internet and artificial intelligence technologies, Yang said.

China's toy exports increased 24.9 percent year on year in 2016, customs data showed.