A recent inspection by the Seoul Metropolitan Government found toxic substances in children’s clothing sold by online retailers such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, with some items containing up to 622 times the allowed levels.
According toreports, a children’s jacket sold on Temu was found to contain phthalate plasticizers – chemicals that can interfere with endocrine functions, at nearly 622 times the legal limit in South Korea.
A pair of children’s shoes sold on AliExpress was found to contain lead at five times the legal limit, while a set of overalls had lead levels 19 times higher than allowed. The platform also sold baby onesies with phthalate plasticizers at 3.5 times the permitted level. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, both lead and cadmium are hazardous substances known to be carcinogenic.
Seoul municipal authorities have announced plans to carry out additional safety tests on seasonal products, such as children’s toys and Christmas decorations, with inspections scheduled for next month.
Other Asian countries have also taken action against Chinese platforms. In Indonesia, authorities pointed out that direct sales from Chinese factories to consumers violate local laws, which mandate the involvement of an intermediary or distributor.
Temu has released a comment on the situation, saying, “Of the seven products mentioned in the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s recent report, two were sold on Temu. These products had already been removed from our platform through proactive monitoring before the report was issued. We require all merchants on our platform to meet strict safety standards and adhere to robust compliance measures. Our quality control efforts include verifying proper documentation, conducting regular spot checks and continuously monitoring the platform for potential issues. When a product is found or suspected to be non-compliant, we act swiftly to remove it and hold the responsible merchants accountable.”
The company further added that in May, it signed a safety pledge with Korea Fair Trade Commission, reaffirming its commitment to safe and reliable shopping and that it will continue working closely with authorities to make sure its users can shop with confidence.
