Identifying Defective Non-Regulated Products Like LED Masks Using Big Data

Government Holds the 4th Product Safety Policy Council Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced that it has established a big data platform to manage the safety of non-regulated products such as LED masks. It plans to develop a system to identify illegal and defective products from online shopping mall sales information. Non-regulated products refer to products that are not subject to safety management but require pre-safety management or post-market management measures.

On the 16th at 2 p.m., the government held the "4th Product Safety Policy Council" at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Moon Seung-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and reviewed and finalized the "4th Comprehensive Plan for Product Safety Management (draft)" and the "Coordination Plan for Non-Regulated Products by Relevant Ministries." Twelve ministries and agencies, including the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, participated.

First, the government decided to establish a comprehensive plan to strengthen product safety management by transitioning to a big data-based product safety management system. The management will proceed in stages such as information collection and analysis → pre- and post-product launch management → foundation establishment.

A big data utilization platform that collects product and purchase information will be built, and an automated inspection system (RPA) will be developed to identify illegal and defective products from sales information posted on online shopping malls. RPA is a system where software robots automatically check product information on online sites and automatically extract illegal and defective products. A dedicated organization for new product risk assessment will also be newly established.

The government will promote market entry of convergence and new technology products by utilizing regulatory sandbox systems such as temporary permits, demonstration exceptions, and the Framework Act on Administrative Regulations. Rapid certification under the "Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Control Act" will also be activated.

After product launch, the government will collaborate with related agencies to conduct customs inspections on imported products and establish a pre-crackdown team for illegal and defective products online. It will actively discover and promptly manage non-regulated products circulating in the market.

The jurisdiction of non-regulated products such as LED masks and receipt printing paper has been adjusted. Beauty devices such as LED masks, plasma beauty devices, eye massagers, and scalp care devices will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will establish safety standards such as human harm and ozone emission levels, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will manage individual products.

Considering the reality that thermal paper containing bisphenol A, which causes reproductive toxicity, is used in receipt printing paper, management measures have been prepared.

At this council meeting, it was decided that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will set and manage safety standards for bisphenol A included in existing household goods and manage wallpaper and paper flooring similar to thermal paper.

Deputy Director Moon said, "Regarding product safety, we must break down silos between ministries and actively collaborate across ministries to prevent accidents caused by hazardous products," and added, "Each ministry should ensure thorough product safety management so that no products are overlooked or left in blind spots due to lack of awareness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.