"700 Times the Standard for Environmental Hormones"…Recall Orders for Infant Shoes and Swimsuits

by Kim Bokyung

Published 29 Jun.2020 11:21(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] A recall order has been issued for 50 products, including walking aid shoes with environmental hormone levels exceeding the standard by more than 700 times.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's National Institute of Technology and Standards announced on the 29th that it investigated a total of 17 categories (719 products) including summer clothing for infants and children, water play equipment, and toys, and issued recall orders for 50 of these products.

For 106 products that violated mandatory labeling requirements such as the KC mark, manufacturing date, and age of use, collection and other measures were recommended.

MK’s Sunflower Leather Sandals, walking aid shoes for infants, were found to contain phthalate-based plasticizers, an environmental hormone, at levels more than 700 times the standard, while E2com’s children’s rain boots contained them at levels exceeding the standard by more than 360 times.

J Plus Trading’s swimsuits were found to exceed the standard levels of plasticizers, as well as lead and cadmium, by 4 times and 7 times respectively.

Ten products including children’s pants, pajamas, and skirts with exposed strings longer than the standard were also detected. To prevent entrapment accidents, external or tightening strings must comply with safety standards.

PlayG’s waterproof camera toy exceeded the lead standard by 78 times, and Dongin SMT’s bath play products for infants and toddlers contained small parts below the legal allowable size, posing a risk of ingestion by children.

One electric insect killer with insufficient electric shock protection and unauthorized component modifications, and one portable grill exceeding surface temperature limits were also subject to recall measures.