The PH government should investigate SHEIN products entering the country

Following recent findings by the Seoul city government that baby products sold through online shopping platform SHEIN contain high levels of toxic chemicals, environmental non-governmental organization BAN Toxics is calling on the Philippine government to conduct its own investigation.

According to news reports, the Seoul government has been carrying out security inspections since last month amid growing concerns about the safety of products sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms. The latest information showed that seven of eight SHEIN products tested contained formaldehyde and phthalates that exceeded the legal limits. One pair of children’s shoes contained phthalates that exceeded the legal limit by 428 times.

Phthalates, commonly used as plasticizers, belong to a group of chemicals that disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system. Exposure to high levels of phthalates is harmful to the human reproductive, neurological and developmental systems, with children being even more vulnerable.

The use of phthalates in children’s toys is prohibited under Food and Drug Administration Administrative Order No. 2009-0005-A. However, there are no orders yet for clothing items such as clothing, bags and shoes.

Meanwhile, absorption of large amounts of formaldehyde by any means can cause severe systemic toxicity, leading to metabolic acidosis, tissue and organ damage, and coma.

“We find this very disturbing because SHEIN is one of the largest online e-commerce platforms, popular in our country, especially among young people. Our own regulatory agencies should also make efforts to immediately conduct safety testing of products sold on SHEIN, otherwise we could inadvertently expose our workers to highly hazardous chemicals,” says Thony Dizon, BAN Toxic Substances Campaign and Advocacy Specialist.

SHEIN is probably one of the largest online fashion stores in the world, known for its low prices and trends. A 2023 Time magazine article even called it the most popular fashion brand in the world.

Online sales in the Philippines are regulated by the Department of Trade and Industry under various laws, including RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code), and RA 10372 (An Act amending certain provisions of RA 8293). . Recently, a Joint Administrative Order (JAO 22-01) issued by various government agencies outlined guidelines, rules, and regulations relevant to online businesses and consumers. Sections 6 and 7 of JAO 22-01 emphasize the responsibility of Internet businesses to protect the public from health and safety threats.

Dizon, however, says enforcing these regulatory policies remains a challenge for the government.

“Customs and regulators face challenges in regulating online trade, especially in monitoring larger volumes of small parcels sold through international couriers. All online purchases must be thoroughly checked. Government regulatory systems are susceptible to false declarations, including the use of false information and misclassification regarding the description of goods,” Dizon added.

“BAN Toxics calls on the government to improve the market surveillance, enforcement, product inspection and analysis capabilities of our regulatory agencies, as well as detection capabilities, to effectively curb widespread trade in products containing toxic chemicals.”

Bibliography:

SHEIN online platform:

https://ph.shein.com/?url_from=phbingbrandshein_shein01_srsa_20240318&msclkid=06beb5aec41415d89523d3f6a330a9f9

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/05/113_375473.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157593/

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/MMG/MMGDetails.aspx?mmgid=216&tksyd=39#:~:text=Inhalation%20of%20formaldehyde%20can%20cause,is%20no%20antidote%20for%20formaldehyde.