14 Out of 33 Overseas Direct Purchase Products Fail Safety Standards
Swimsuits and More Exceed pH Limits... Sales Suspended
"Outdoor Children's Products to Be Inspected in the Fall"
Substances that can cause dermatitis have been found in children's water play products sold on AliExpress and Temu. Some products were also found to have failed to meet physical safety standards.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on August 1 that it conducted safety inspections on 33 children's water play products and swimsuits sold on overseas online platforms, and found that 14 products did not meet safety standards.
Photo of non-compliant products from the safety inspection conducted by Seoul City. Korea Conformity Laboratories
The inspection covered 24 children's water play products, swimsuits, goggles, and swim caps sold on AliExpress and Temu, as well as 9 ultra-low-priced children's products. The products were tested for the presence of hazardous chemicals and for durability (mechanical and physical properties).
Three "children's water play products" failed the physical safety tests. Among them, one product did not meet the domestic safety standard for the force required to release the buckle, measuring 35N instead of the required 50N. The other two products had a main body thickness of 0.19mm, which did not meet the standard of at least 0.25mm. These deficiencies could lead to buckle release or product breakage during water play, increasing the risk of safety accidents.
Six "children's swimsuits" failed to meet domestic standards in both physical tests and pH levels. pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. If the pH of textile products falls outside the standard range (pH 4.0~7.5), indicating strong acidity or strong alkalinity, it may cause skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis.
Among these, three products did not have drawstrings attached to the clothing, and the free end of the string exceeded the standard length of 20cm. In two products, the free end of decorative cords attached to the shoulder straps exceeded the standard length of 7.5cm, or there were free ends in the neck area where they are prohibited. These issues can pose risks of entanglement or snagging when worn. Another product had a pH value of 9.4, which exceeded the standard.
Two "children's goggles" were found to have small parts that could be easily detached, posing a risk of ingestion. Small parts must be prohibited for use by children under 36 months or have warning labels for children aged 36 to 72 months. However, one product intended for children under 36 months had a detachable belt decoration that resulted in small parts, and another product intended for children aged 36 to 72 months lacked the required warning label.
Among the ultra-low-priced children's products, three toys also failed to meet physical safety standards. In one product, a sharp end was created during a tensile test. Another product lacked design features to reduce the risk of injury from rotating parts, such as punctures or cuts. The remaining product, an educational toy, had an average thickness below the standard of 0.038mm, indicating a risk of suffocation if it adheres to the nose or mouth.
Based on the inspection results, the Seoul Metropolitan Government requested that the relevant online platforms suspend sales of the non-compliant products. The city urged consumers to exercise particular caution during the vacation season, when the use of water safety products increases, and to carefully check whether products purchased via overseas direct purchase meet safety standards.
Photo of non-compliant products from the safety inspection conducted by Seoul City. Korea Conformity Laboratories
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