Overseas Direct Purchases Threatening Public Safety... Recalled Products Boldly Distributed Domestically

Cases of products recalled overseas in Europe and the United States being distributed domestically have been continuously occurring.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 7th that, as a result of monitoring products recalled overseas last year, it confirmed domestic distribution of 473 products and took corrective actions. By category, food and beverages accounted for the largest number with 113 items (23.9%), followed by home appliances, electronics, and communication devices with 106 items (22.4%), and children and infant products with 70 items (14.8%).

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Looking at the reasons for recalls by category, 69.9% of food and beverage recalls were due to the presence of harmful substances and allergenic ingredients. For home appliances, electronics, and communication devices, recalls were due to electrical hazards such as electric shock risk, manufacturing defects causing malfunctions, overheating, ignition, sparks, and smoke. For children and infant products, the most common recall reason was the risk of swallowing small parts and suffocation.

Among the 473 overseas recalled products, 219 cases had confirmed country of manufacture information. Chinese products accounted for 138 cases (63%), overwhelmingly the most, followed by American products with 13 cases (5.9%). By category, among Chinese products (138 cases), home appliances, electronics, and communication devices were 58 cases (42.0%), children and infant products were 45 cases (32.6%), and sports and leisure goods were 16 cases (11.6%). Among American products (13 cases), household chemical products were 5 cases (38.5%), sports and leisure goods were 3 cases (23.1%), and home appliances, electronics, and communication devices were 2 cases (15.4%).

The Consumer Agency also reported that despite blocking domestic distribution of overseas recalled products through official importers, 513 cases of redistribution through purchasing agents and other means were detected and corrected last year. Among the detected redistribution cases, 125 cases (24.4%) were home appliances, electronics, and communication devices, the largest category.

The Korea Consumer Agency plans to block online distribution of overseas hazardous products through the government ministries’ joint "Overseas Hazardous Products Management Working Council" and the online platform "Voluntary Product Safety Agreement." A Consumer Agency official urged, "When purchasing products through overseas direct purchase or purchasing agents, consumers must check whether the product has been recalled on the Consumer Harm Monitoring System and Consumer24."

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