Seoul Conducts Safety Inspections on Children's Clothing from AliExpress, Temu, and Shein
Phthalate Plasticizers Linked to Endocrine Disorders
Sales Suspension Requested for Affected Platforms... Consumers Urged to Exercise Caution
Harmful substances exceeding the domestic standard by 157 times were detected in children's jeans sold on overseas direct purchase platforms. The Seoul Metropolitan Government requested the suspension of sales on the platform after a large amount of phthalate plasticizers, which can cause endocrine system disorders, were detected.
On the 28th, Seoul announced the results of tests for harmful chemical substances and durability on 41 types of children's textile products and toys sold on Temu, Shein, and AliExpress.
Seoul City inspection results revealed that the pocket lining of boys' jeans sold through overseas direct purchase contained formaldehyde exceeding the standard by 1.2 times. Provided by Seoul City
Among the 41 products tested, including 31 children's products, 5 toys, 2 sunglasses, and 3 bags, 10 products were found to be non-compliant. In particular, 5 types of children's textile products exceeded harmful substance standards or failed to meet physical safety standards.
Phthalate plasticizers were detected at 157.4 times the domestic standard in rubber buttons on girls' jeans. Formaldehyde exceeded the standard by 1.2 times in the pocket lining of boys' jeans and by 1.02 times in the fabric of girls' skirts. Phthalate plasticizers are substances that can cause endocrine system disorders.
In addition to the detection of harmful substances, cases of non-compliance in physical tests were also confirmed. There is also a risk of bodily injury due to the product's structure or attachments. For example, in the code and tightening string items of the "girls' skirt," the length of the waist string exceeded the standard (20 cm or less), and the finishing of the string ends was not properly handled, resulting in a non-compliance judgment.
In infant textile products, harmful substances such as lead and cadmium were detected in excess. Lead was detected at 1.7 times the standard and cadmium at 1.8 times the standard in brooches attached to infant blouses. The pin of the brooch was also pointed out as problematic due to its sharp design. Additionally, all three color variants of infant leggings had ribbon decoration lengths exceeding domestic standards. Among these, the white product's ribbon fabric had a pH level of 8.3, which is outside the domestic standard range and may cause skin irritation.
Seoul requested the suspension of sales on the platform for the non-compliant products and announced plans to conduct safety inspections on toys, which are expected to see increased demand ahead of Children's Day next month. The safety inspection results can be viewed on the Seoul Metropolitan Government or Seoul Electronic Commerce Center websites.
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