Government Strengthens Safety Management of Nonwoven Fabric Masks... Distinguishing from Medical Masks and Indicating Manufacturing Methods

National Institute of Technology and Standards Establishes 'Winter Face Mask Preliminary Safety Standards'
One-Month Grace Period... Effective from the 11th of Next Month

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government is strengthening safety management of general non-woven fabric masks, including disposable ones, whose usage has increased due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The National Institute of Technology and Standards has established a "Preliminary Safety Standard for Cold Protection Masks," which introduces harmful substance limits for non-woven fabric masks and improves labeling requirements, to be implemented from the 11th of next month.

Recently, harmful substances such as DMF (Dimethylformamide) or DMAc (Dimethylacetamide) have been used in some non-woven fabric material manufacturing processes, including nano-filters, raising the need for safety management of these products.

There have been many cases where consumers mistakenly identify general non-woven fabric masks, whose droplet-blocking function has not been verified, as health masks (KF masks), making clear labeling distinctions necessary.

Accordingly, the National Institute of Technology and Standards conducted field surveys and expert discussions to establish limit values regulating DMF and DMAc, thereby strengthening safety management standards for non-woven fabric masks.

After the preliminary safety standard is enforced, manufacturers of non-woven fabric masks will only be able to release products with harmful substance (DMF, DMAc) levels below the limit value (5 mg/kg). It is expected that non-woven fabric masks using DMF or DMAc in the manufacturing process will effectively be unable to circulate in the market.

The labeling standard has also been newly established to mandate the indication of "Home Textile Product (Cold Protection Mask)" on mask product names, enabling consumers to clearly distinguish between general non-woven fabric masks and health masks (KF masks). To prevent COVID-19 infection, consumers are encouraged to use health masks (KF masks) whose droplet-blocking function has been verified.

Additionally, to help consumers refer to and properly use mask products, the manufacturing method of the non-woven fabric and handling precautions must also be indicated.

The "Preliminary Safety Standard for Cold Protection Masks," announced tomorrow (the 10th), will be enforced from December 11th after a one-month grace period.

The standard will apply to general non-woven fabric mask products released or cleared through customs after the enforcement date, and from that day forward, product safety investigations will be conducted under the new standard to block illegal and defective products. Detailed information about the preliminary safety standard can be found on the National Institute of Technology and Standards website.

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