The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 28th that safety inspections of 41 products sold on Temu, Shein, and AliExpress – 31 children's mid-season textile products and 10 bags and toys – revealed that 10 products failed to meet safety standards.
The city conducted tests on the presence of harmful chemical substances and durability (mechanical and physical properties). Firstly, five products classified as 'children's textile products' were deemed non-compliant due to exceeding hazardous substance limits or failing to meet physical safety standards.
In particular, phthalate plasticizers were detected in the rubber button of a girl's pair of jeans at 157.4 times the domestic standard (total 0.1% or less). Phthalate plasticizers are substances that can cause endocrine disruption and affect reproductive functions. Contact can also cause irritation to the eyes and skin.
Formaldehyde was detected in the pocket lining of a boy's pair of jeans at 1.2 times the standard (75mg/kg), and in the fabric of a girl's skirt at 1.02 times the standard. Formaldehyde is a major pollutant known to cause sick building syndrome and can induce eye irritation, difficulty breathing, and headaches.
Cases of non-compliance in physical tests due to the risk of bodily injury from product structure or attachments were also identified. A girl's skirt was found to have a waist drawstring exceeding the standard length (20cm or less) with improperly finished ends, and a children's knitwear item had decorations attached that are prohibited in domestic children's textile products.
Furthermore, lead was detected in the internal white wire of a toy car at approximately 57.7 times the standard, cadmium at 1.5 times, and phthalate plasticizers at 157 times above the limit. Phthalate plasticizers were also found in another (red) wire at 81.7 times the standard, leading to non-compliance for both. Two doll products had sharp metal zippers that posed a risk of puncture and cuts.
The city stated, "We have requested the respective platforms to suspend the sale of the products that failed the safety tests." They added, "In April, ahead of Children's Day, we plan to conduct safety inspections on toy products, for which demand is expected to increase."
The safety inspection results can be found on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website (seoul.go.kr) or the Seoul E-Commerce Center website (ecc.seoul.go.kr). For consumer damage or complaints related to overseas platforms, inquiries can be made to the Seoul E-Commerce Center hotline (02-2133-4896), the Dasan Call Center (120), or the E-Commerce Center website.
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