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On Wednesday, 14th August, Seoul officials announced that women’s accessories from online giants Shein and Temu were contaminated with toxic chemicals far exceeding safety limits.
In recent years, Chinese online marketplaces like Shein, Temu, and AliExpress have seen meteoric rises, drawing in customers worldwide with their affordable yet trendy fashion offerings.
In addition, the phenomenal success of these online retailers has led to heightened scrutiny of their business models and product safety standards. This includes intensified regulatory oversight in the European Union and South Korea, where Seoul authorities have begun conducting weekly inspections of online platforms.
A recent inspection of 144 products from Shein, AliExpress, and Temu revealed that multiple items from each company failed to comply with legal regulations.
Shockingly, officials discovered that Shein shoes had phthalate levels hundreds of times above safety standards. One pair contained 229 times the permitted amount of this harmful chemical.
According to a Seoul environmental health official, phthalates can negatively impact reproductive functions, causing issues such as reduced sperm count, infertility, and premature birth.
Additionally, they warned that the International Cancer Institute had identified one chemical as a human carcinogen, emphasising the need to avoid extended exposure.
Shein caps contained double the allowable amount of formaldehyde, a chemical often used in building products.
Furthermore, tests revealed that two Shein nail polish bottles had excessive amounts of dioxane and methanol. Officials detected dioxane, a chemical that can potentially cause cancer and liver damage, at 3.6 times the permitted level. Additionally, they found that methanol concentration surpassed the acceptable limit by 1.4 times.
Shein informed AFP that they “collaborate closely with international third-party testing agencies…to conduct regular risk-based sampling tests, ensuring that products from suppliers comply with Shein’s safety standards.”
“Our suppliers must adhere to the controls and standards we have established, as well as the product safety laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate,” the company added.
Seoul officials found lead contamination in the insoles of Temu sandals, with levels exceeding the permissible standard by more than 11 times.
Temu did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to a government statement, Seoul authorities ordered removing the affected products from sale.
“Products that exceed the legal limit are those that come into direct contact with the body, such as leather sandals and hats, so citizens should be particularly cautious,” said Kim Tae-hee, an official in the capital.
Seoul authorities will maintain a regular schedule of product safety inspections and will transparently share the results.
The European Union added Shein to its list of high-profile online platforms in April, placing it under increased scrutiny. This includes stricter safety measures to safeguard consumers, especially minors, from dangerous products.
The discovery of toxic substances in these widely popular products raises serious concerns about the safety of fast fashion and the broader consumer goods industry. Increased regulatory oversight and transparency are essential to safeguard consumers from harm.
