Substances that can cause dermatitis have been detected in children's water play products sold on AliExpress and Temu. Some products were also found to fail physical safety standards.

On August 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had conducted safety inspections on 33 children's water toys and swimsuits sold on overseas online platforms, and found that 14 products did not meet safety standards.

Photo of non-compliant products from the safety inspection conducted by Seoul City. Korea Conformity Laboratories

원본보기 아이콘

The inspection covered 24 children's water toys, swimsuits, goggles, and swim caps sold on AliExpress and Temu, as well as 9 ultra-low-priced children's products. The products were tested for the presence of hazardous chemicals and for durability (mechanical and physical properties).

Three "children's water toys" failed the physical safety tests. Among them, one product required only 35N of force to release the buckle, which did not meet the Korean safety standard of 50N. The other two products had a body thickness of 0.19mm, which was below the required standard of 0.25mm or more. These deficiencies could cause the buckle to come undone or the product to break during use, potentially leading to safety accidents.

Six "children's swimsuits" failed both the physical test and the pH test according to Korean standards. pH is an index indicating the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. If the pH of textile products deviates from the standard range (pH 4.0~7.5) and is strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, it may cause skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis.

Among these, three products did not have drawstrings attached to the clothing, and the free end of the string exceeded the standard length of 20cm. Two products had decorative cords attached to the shoulder straps with free ends exceeding the standard length of 7.5cm, or had free ends in the neck area, which is prohibited. These issues may cause risks such as entanglement or catching during use. Another product had a pH value of 9.4, which exceeded the standard.

Two "children's goggles" were found to have small parts that could be easily detached, posing a risk of swallowing. Small parts must be prohibited for use by children under 36 months, or carry a warning label for children between 36 and 72 months. However, one product intended for children under 36 months had a detachable belt ornament that created small parts, and another product intended for children between 36 and 72 months did not have the required warning label.

Among the ultra-low-priced children's products, three toys also failed to meet physical safety standards. One product produced a sharp end during a tensile test, while another lacked design features to prevent injuries such as punctures or cuts from rotating parts. The remaining product, an educational toy, had an average thickness below the standard (0.038mm or more), posing a risk of sticking to the nose or mouth and causing suffocation.

Based on these inspection results, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has requested the relevant online platforms to suspend the sale of non-compliant products. The city urged consumers to exercise particular caution when purchasing water safety products through overseas direct purchase, especially during the holiday season when usage increases, and to carefully verify whether products meet safety standards before buying.

Photo of non-compliant products from the safety inspection conducted by Seoul City. Korea Conformity Laboratories

원본보기 아이콘