"China's Aftermath?" H&M and Nike Clothing Fail Quality Inspection... Recall Measures Implemented

China Customs Detects Harmful Substances in Children's Cotton Products...Raises Safety and Quality Concerns
Interpreted as Retaliation Against Brands That Decided Not to Use Xinjiang Cotton

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese authorities have ordered the recall of overseas imported brand products such as H&M, which raised concerns about forced labor issues in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, citing safety problems. This move is expected to further fuel the boycott movement against overseas imported brands like H&M.

The General Administration of Customs of China announced on the 2nd that safety inspections conducted on some overseas imported brands including H&M, Nike, Gap, Zara, and Nego found that some products were deemed unqualified. The investigation revealed that many unqualified items included children's cotton clothing.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that overseas imported brand products such as Gap boys' knit pajamas, Zara children's underwear and infant clothing (onesies), and Nike boys' cotton T-shirts were all found to be unqualified. These products contain harmful substances that could be detrimental to children's skin and may enter the body through children's mouths, the agency warned.

Japanese products such as Wakodo and Chiaohu children's toothbrushes and Muji girls' dresses were also found unqualified in this investigation, and some Lego toys were flagged for safety accident risks.

Xinhua News Agency reported that all overseas imported brand products deemed unqualified will be recalled, and China will strictly prevent unqualified products from entering the Chinese market to protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests.

Lu Feng, Deputy Director of the Beijing Customs Commodity Inspection Bureau, said, "In the past year, Beijing Customs has detected more than 111,800 unqualified imported children's products including clothing, toys, and toothbrushes," adding, "Inspections on imported children's products will be further strengthened."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The General Administration of Customs of China advised that when purchasing imported clothing products, consumers should check whether decorations such as buttons are sturdy, and even new products must be washed before being worn by children. It also emphasized that when buying imported children's toothbrushes, the condition of the bristles and the shape of the toothbrush must be carefully checked.

Regarding this announcement by the General Administration of Customs, Global Times reported that overseas imported brands such as H&M and Nike, which received quality unqualified judgments, are companies that declared they would not use raw materials such as cotton produced in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region based on false information about forced labor. It also explained that boycott movements against some brands like H&M and Nike are ongoing.

The media added that criticism from Chinese consumers against imported brands that received unqualified judgments is intense, and the number of consumers choosing to use Chinese brand products is increasing.

Meanwhile, the market size of imported children's products in China is known to be 400 billion yuan annually (approximately 70 trillion Korean won).

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