Life of Guangzhou - 50% of Kids' Clothing Fail National Standards

Nearly 50 percent of children's clothing was found to have failed national standards and could harm children's health, the Shenzhen Consumer Council said yesterday.

The consumer council conducted a sample test in January on 50 batches of children's clothing purchased from shopping malls and supermarkets throughout the city. The brands examined included Twin Kids, Kitty Mioaw, Tom Jerry, Phenom, Fuchi Funhouse, DisNep and Automan, with prices ranging from 10 to 400 yuan (USD1.47-58.6).

The results showed that only 27 of the 50 samples, or 54 percent, met national requirements, and major problems with those that failed the test were related to color fastness, materials and PH value.

Problematic brands included Beetle House, For Dream Kids, ET-Club, Tom Jerry, Tong Ni Yao Little Ants, Sunshine Mouse and Beienbao.

Clothing with a high PH value can cause skin irritation and reduce immunity, while those with a low level of color fastness can leave dyes on the skin, which can cause irritation or even cancer, Zhou Jue, an official with the consumer council, said.

Some children's wear was found to be made from lower-quality fabric than stated in their description, which misled consumers, Zhou said.

The only sample found to contain azo dyes, which could cause irritation or even cancer, was a girl's top sold at the World Trade Department Store in Longgang District and produced by Shenzhen Tong Ni Yao Co., the consumer council said.

The council said it had informed manufacturers of the results and most companies had said they would try to improve their products.

The council advised consumers to pay extra attention to the quality, material and color of children's clothing.

Clothing made from 100 percent cotton or silk is more comfortable, and light colors are more suitable for children's underwear and summer wear, Zhou said. Consumers can also use tissues to rub clothing to check whether the material will lose its color, and babies' and adults' clothing should be washed separately, Zhou added.

(Jane Lai)

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