Some of the world's most popular online shopping firms, including Chinese giants Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, have been found selling women's accessories containing toxic substances, sometimes hundreds of times above acceptable levels, according to Seoul authorities on Wednesday.
These companies have seen a surge in global popularity due to their extensive range of trendy clothes and accessories offered at remarkably low prices, challenging the dominance of US giant Amazon. This rapid growth has attracted increased regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the European Union and South Korea, where Seoul officials conduct weekly inspections of items sold by online platforms.
In the latest inspection, 144 products from Shein, AliExpress, and Temu were tested, with multiple products from each company failing to meet legal standards. Shein shoes were found to contain dangerously high levels of phthalates, with one pair exceeding the legal limit by 229 times. Phthalates can affect reproductive functions and are classified as human carcinogens by the International Cancer Institute.
Formaldehyde, commonly used in home building products, was detected in Shein's caps at twice the allowable threshold. Additionally, two bottles of Shein nail polish were found to contain dioxane and methanol at levels above the acceptable limit. Shein stated that they collaborate with international third-party testing agencies to ensure their products meet safety standards.
Temu sandals were found to contain lead in the insoles at levels more than 11 times the permissible limit. Temu responded by removing these product listings and enhancing their compliance systems with safety standards and local regulations.
Seoul authorities demanded the removal of all non-compliant products from sale. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to continue conducting periodic safety tests and disclose the results. The European Union has also placed Shein under stricter safety rules to protect customers from unsafe products, especially those that could be harmful to minors.
