Harmful Substances Detected in Some Imported Children's Products Including RC Cars

10 Out of 27 Surveyed Products Exceed Safety Standards

It has been found that some overseas purchasing agency children’s products sold on domestic online platforms contain harmful substances such as humidifier disinfectant components (CMIT·MIT), phthalate-based plasticizers, and heavy metals (cadmium·lead).

The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 12th that this was confirmed as a result of a safety investigation of 27 overseas purchasing agency children’s products. According to the Special Act on Safety of Children’s Products, overseas purchasing agency children’s products must comply with common safety standards for children’s products and item-specific safety standards. However, among the 27 products surveyed, 10 products (37.0%) were found to contain harmful substances exceeding safety standards.

Among the 10 products, three electric toys such as remote-controlled cars exceeded the phthalate-based plasticizer and lead standards by 51 to 79 times and 7 to 11 times, respectively. One water play product such as a tube exceeded the phthalate-based plasticizer standard by 194 times, and another product exceeded the phthalate-based plasticizer and cadmium standards by 269 times and 3 times, respectively. Four liquid toys such as soap bubbles and finger paint contained MIT (methylisothiazolinone) and CMIT (methylchloroisothiazolinone), preservatives that are prohibited from use, and one product exceeded the phthalate-based plasticizer and lead standards by 79 times and 10 times, respectively.

The Consumer Agency recommended that purchasing agency operators selling products containing harmful substances stop sales, and the operators blocked distribution by deleting the sales pages. A Consumer Agency official urged, “When purchasing children’s products through purchasing agencies, be sure to check the safety certification number and verify whether the product has received safety certification through the Product Safety Information Center operated by the National Institute of Technology and Standards.”