'Daiso Baby Bathtub with 612 Times Environmental Hormones... Refund Implemented'

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Asung Daiso announced on the 11th that it will offer refunds after detecting harmful substances exceeding the safety standard by more than 612 times in baby bathtubs sold at its stores.

The product in question is the baby bathtub Cosma (KHB_W5EF8A6) manufactured by Daehyun Chemical Industry, which was sold at Daiso under the product name 'Water Drain Baby Bathtub' (product number 1019717).

According to the announcement by the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, this product contained phthalate-based plasticizers, an environmental hormone, exceeding the safety standard by 612.5 times. Phthalate-based plasticizers are harmful chemicals that can cause liver damage and reproductive dysfunction.

From today until January 31 of next year, customers can return the product to any Daiso store for a refund regardless of the purchase date, whether the packaging is opened or used, or whether they have a receipt. If purchased outside of Daiso stores, customers should contact the manufacturer, Daehyun Chemical Industry.

In an apology posted on its website this afternoon, Asung Daiso stated, "We failed to thoroughly manage the safety of products used for infants," and added, "We will take full responsibility together with Daehyun Chemical Industry, which received the recall order for this product, and the seller, Gihyeon Industry."

Asung Daiso explained that when the product was first stocked, it confirmed safety-related documents such as a test report from a nationally accredited testing agency confirming no detection of plasticizers, but during subsequent stocking, the manufacturer did not produce the product according to safety standards.

Daehyun Chemical Industry said in its apology, "We deeply regret and apologize for causing safety issues with the products on sale due to inadequate management of raw materials."

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