Overseas Recalled Products 'Loaded' with Harmful Substances... Freely Distributed Domestically

Cases of products recalled overseas due to safety issues being distributed and sold domestically have been increasing every year, highlighting the need for consumers to exercise special caution.

On the 25th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that it inspected the domestic distribution status of products recalled overseas in countries such as China, the United States, and Europe last year, blocking a total of 1,336 cases. Among these, 577 cases were blocked from sale by the Consumer Agency, and 759 cases involved overseas recalled products that were redistributed and subsequently corrected. The number of blocked cases of overseas recalled products distributed domestically has been increasing annually, with 807 cases in 2022 and 986 cases in 2023. Last year's figure represents a 35.5% increase compared to the previous year.

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By category, food and beverages accounted for the highest number with 155 cases (26.9%), followed by home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices with 149 cases (25.8%), and children and infant products with 84 cases (14.6%). The reasons for recalls by category showed that for food and beverages, the most common cause was the presence of harmful substances and allergenic ingredients with 89 cases (57.4%), followed by foreign substances in 28 cases (18.1%), and spoilage or deterioration in 25 cases (16.1%). For home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices, electrical factors (40 cases, 26.8%) predominated, while for children and infant products, recalls due to parts detachment, swallowing, and choking hazards (32 cases, 38.1%) made up the majority.

Among the 577 overseas recalled products, 305 cases had confirmed country of manufacture information. Chinese-made products accounted for the largest share with 191 cases (62.6%), followed by American-made products with 33 cases (10.8%). By category, Chinese-made products were most frequently recalled in home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices with 85 cases (44.5%). This was followed by children and infant products with 46 cases (24.1%) and household and automotive products with 28 cases (14.7%). American-made products were mainly household chemical products (10 cases), home appliances, electronics, and telecommunications devices (6 cases), and food and beverages (5 cases).

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Overseas recalled products are more often distributed through open market purchasing agents or specialized purchasing agent sites rather than through official importers, and even products blocked from sale at existing sales points can be redistributed through other businesses or distribution channels. Last year, with the rapid increase in transactions through overseas direct purchase platforms such as Ali and Temu, the routes through which recalled products from overseas can be distributed or redistributed have also diversified.

The Consumer Agency plans to strengthen market surveillance by including overseas direct purchase platforms as a focus of monitoring and collaborating with related government agencies participating in the 'Overseas Hazardous Goods Management Working Group.' Consumers are urged to always check whether a product has been recalled through the 'Consumer Hazard Monitoring System' or the 'Consumer24' website when purchasing products via overseas direct purchase or purchasing agents.

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