Seoul authorities find toxic substances in Shein and Temu products

SEOUL: Seoul authorities said on Wednesday that women’s accessories sold by some of the world’s most popular online shopping companies contained toxic substances that were sometimes hundreds of times higher than permitted levels.

Chinese giants such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress have gained huge popularity around the world in recent years, offering a wide selection of fashionable clothes and accessories at surprisingly low prices.

The surge in online shopping has led to increased scrutiny of business practices and safety standards, including in the European Union and South Korea, where officials in Seoul are conducting weekly inspections of goods sold through online platforms.

During the last inspection, 144 products from the Shein, AliExpress and Temu brands were checked. It turned out that many products from all companies did not meet legal standards.

Shein shoes were found to have exceptionally high levels of phthalates – chemicals used to increase the flexibility of plastics – with one pair containing levels 229 times the legal limit.

“Phthalate-based plasticizers affect reproductive functions, such as reducing sperm count, and may cause infertility and even premature birth,” an official from Seoul’s environmental health team told AFP.

They added that one such chemical “has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Cancer Institute, and therefore extreme caution should be exercised to avoid prolonged contact of this substance with the human body.”

Formaldehyde, a chemical commonly used in home-building products, has been detected in Shein caps at levels twice the legal limit.

Two bottles of Shein nail polish were found to contain dioxane – a possible human carcinogen that can cause liver toxicity – at levels 3.6 times the legal limit, and methanol at levels 1.4 times the legal limit.

Shein told AFP it “works closely with international, independent testing agencies… to regularly conduct risk-based sampling tests to ensure that products supplied by suppliers meet Shein’s product safety standards.”

“Our suppliers are required to comply with the controls and standards we have implemented, as well as the product safety laws and regulations in the countries where we operate,” the company added.

Seoul authorities found that the insoles of Temu sandals contained lead that was 11 times higher than the legal limit.

He did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Seoul officials called for the products to be withdrawn from sale, according to a government statement.

“The products exceeding the allowable limit are those that come into direct contact with the body, such as leather sandals and hats, so citizens should be especially careful,” said Kim Tae-hee, an official in the capital.

“The Seoul Metropolitan Government will continue to conduct security tests periodically and disclose the results.”

In April, the European Union added Shein to a list of digital companies that are large enough to be subject to stricter security rules — including measures to protect customers from unsafe products, especially those that may be harmful to minors.

Shein and Temu have followed in the footsteps of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and challenged Amazon, especially by entering the US market. – AFP