Seoul City Finds 14 Out of 24 Imported Children's Textile Products Fail Safety Standards
Harmful Substances Detected in Clothing and Footwear from Overseas Online Platforms
Harmful substances exceeding domestic standards by up to 33 times have been detected in children's summer clothing and footwear sold on Chinese online platforms. Some products also failed to meet physical safety standards.
On May 29, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had conducted safety inspections on 24 children's summer products (7 tops, 9 bottoms, and 8 pairs of shoes) sold on platforms such as AliExpress, Temu, and SHEIN, and found that 14 products failed to meet safety standards.
Among the footwear, four products were found to contain lead and phthalate plasticizers above domestic limits. Of these, one product contained phthalate plasticizers at levels 33 times higher than the domestic standard, while another contained lead at approximately 25 times the permissible limit. Phthalate plasticizers are endocrine disruptors that can affect reproductive function and may cause irritation to the eyes and skin upon contact. Exposure to lead above safety standards can harm reproductive health and increase the risk of cancer.
All four tops exceeded the pH standard (pH 4.0?7.5) not only in the fabric but also in various parts such as the neckline and decorations. The pH value of some products reached as high as 8.8, and the level of nonylphenol was also 1.3 times higher than the domestic standard.
Six bottoms failed to meet standards in terms of physical testing, detection of harmful substances, and pH levels. Some products had decorative waist strings or fixed loops that exceeded the allowable length, posing a risk of safety accidents. In one of these products, cadmium was detected in a metal button at a level 1.67 times higher than the standard. Cadmium is a carcinogenic substance that can cause bone abnormalities or accumulate in the liver and kidneys.
Based on these inspection results, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has requested each online platform to suspend sales of the products that failed safety standards. A Seoul city official stated, "Special caution is needed when purchasing children's products from overseas direct purchase platforms," and added, "Next month, we plan to conduct safety inspections on children's umbrellas, raincoats, and rain boots, for which demand is expected to increase during the rainy season."
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