Plastic Shoes for Kids Subject to Market Surveillance in Taiwan

Shoes are a daily necessity worn by children, therefore safety is particularly important.

Spot Checks at Retailers to Improve Children’s Footwear Safety

In order to evaluate the quality and safety of children’s shoes, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) implements market surveillance in shoe stores, supermarkets and department stores.

A random sampling of 15 pairs of children’s plastic shoes, including sandals and gardening shoes, were selected to conduct chemical testing and Chinese language labeling inspection. According to the inspected results, 2 types of sandals out of 15 samples were found not in compliance with the national standards. In addition, seven pairs of shoes did not meet the requirements for Chinese language labeling.

Phthalates Plasticizers among Targeted Substances

According to BSMI, the tests were based on the national standard CNS 15503 – “General requirements for the safety of children’s products,” where the test items below were conducted:

- Phthalates plasticizers content – DMP, DEP, DBP, BBP, DEHP, DNOP, DINP and DIDP.

- Heavy metals content – lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, arsenic, selenium, antimony and barium.

- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).

- Chinese language labeling check according to the “Footwear products labeling standard.”

The test results are as follows:

A. Quality items:

- Two types of sandals contained 25.63% and 14.6% of phthalates plasticizer content, which exceed the national standard of 0.1% of weight.

- All 15 pairs of shoes met the standard limits for heavy metals content.

- All 15 pairs of shoes met the standard limits for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) content.

B. Chinese language labeling: Seven pairs of shoes did not meet the requirements, including failure to list country of origin, name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer, and material content in Chinese.

BSMI emphasized that phthalates plasticizers are often classified as endocrine disruptors where long-term exposure may result in human health effects including lowered fertility, sexual development problems such as feminizing of boys or precocious puberty in girls and may cause breast cancer. Therefore, phthalates plasticizers content in children’s products has been one of the Bureau’s key market surveillance projects over the years.

Authorities Call on Sellers and Consumers to Be Vigilant

BSMI said that children’s plastic shoes do not currently belong to the controlled products list that the Bureau announced. Products that do not comply with the consumer protection laws during quality spot checks are subject to removal from shelves and recall for recovery improvements. The Central Office of the Ministry of Economy will dispose of footwear products that do not comply with Chinese language labeling in accordance with the Commodity Labeling Law.

BSMI appealed to sellers to control the quality of children’s plastic footwear products, and to implement Chinese language labeling based on the “Footwear Products Labeled standards” for protecting consumers’ rights.

The Bureau reminds consumers how to choose plastic shoes for children, considering appearance, size and practicality.  In addition, the following should also be noted:

A. Whether Chinese language labeling is complete or not.

B. Uppers, soles and other parts should have good adhesion, no peeling projection.

C. Plastic surface and rubber surface should be free of sticky glue and contamination.

D. There shall be no significant uneven bubbles in the outsole of foamed soles.

E. Overall appearance including uppers, shoes and soles, shall have no obvious spots, dirt, mildew, or harmful impurities.

Reference:

Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) – Market surveillance in shoe stores (http://www.bsmi.gov.tw/wSite/ct?xItem=56152&ctNode=1510&mp=1)

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Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services

Kris Wan
Senior Manager, Global Softlines Development Office
SGS Hong Kong
t: +852 2765 3695
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sgs.com/softlines

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