Fake luxury earrings contain cadmium 930 times the standard... Carcinogens also found in bags and wallets

Korea Customs Service Announces Results of Intensive Intellectual Property Rights Crackdown
Detected Levels Exceed Maximum Standard by Up to 930 Times

As a result of the Korea Customs Service's focused crackdown on so-called 'counterfeit' goods infringing intellectual property rights, carcinogenic substances exceeding the standard limits were detected in a large number of products.

Intellectual property infringement items seized over four weeks in November last year. [Image source=Korea Customs Service]

According to the results of the intellectual property rights crackdown announced by the Korea Customs Service at Seoul Customs on the 23rd, there were 142,930 items of intellectual property rights-infringing goods among imported items in November. In particular, carcinogenic substances such as lead and cadmium exceeding the standard limits were detected in earrings and other items that come into direct contact with the skin.

November is a period when imported clearance items surge due to large-scale overseas discount events such as China's Guanggun Festival and the US Black Friday, including express, postal, and general imports. Therefore, this focused crackdown was conducted across all import clearance sectors in preparation for a surge in the inflow of intellectual property rights-infringing goods. By quantity, the seized items were mostly clothing at 40%, followed by stationery at 16%, accessories at 14%, keychains at 8%, bags at 5%, toys at 2%, shoes at 2%, and wallets at 2%.

Analysis of these seized counterfeit goods through the Korea Customs Service Central Customs Analysis Laboratory revealed lead and cadmium levels ranging from at least twice to as much as 930 times the safety standards. Among 24 counterfeit earrings of overseas luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Chanel, cadmium was detected in 20 products, accounting for 83%, and among these, 3 cases also contained lead exceeding the standard limits.

In 15 of the earrings where cadmium was detected, the cadmium content exceeded 600 times the standard, accounting for more than 60% of the total composition. In the case of Gucci earrings, cadmium was detected at 930 times the standard, making up 92.95%. Judging by these figures, it appears that cadmium was not only used for simple surface treatment of the earrings but was used as a main component during manufacturing.

Hah Chun-ho, Director of the Customs Clearance Surveillance Bureau at Incheon Customs, is announcing the results of the intellectual property rights crackdown on the 23rd at Seoul Customs. [Image source=Korea Customs Service]

Additionally, lead was detected at 153 times the standard in a Chanel brooch, and some counterfeit bags and wallets also contained lead and cadmium exceeding the standard limits. The Korea Customs Service pointed out that "the distribution and consumption of counterfeit goods not only pose intellectual property rights infringement issues but also seriously threaten public health."

Cadmium and lead are carcinogens designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cadmium poisoning is known to cause diseases related to the respiratory system, renal system, and digestive system. Lead poisoning is reported to cause diseases related to the renal system, central nervous system, digestive system, and reproductive system.

Meanwhile, among the items seized in this focused crackdown, 462 items included products from nine Korean companies such as Kakao (keychains) and Samsung (earphones). This shows that intellectual property rights infringement damage is not limited to overseas luxury brands but is also affecting domestic brands that have recently gained popularity overseas.