Result of monitoring on domestic distribution of products recalled overseas in 2019

Consumers need to pay extra attention to products recalled overseas due to safety concerns as they may be distributed in the market through domestic proxy purchasing sites and overseas direct purchases.

□ 137 products recalled overseas are blocked from domestic distribution and sales.

The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA)(President Lee Hee-sook) conducted its monitoring on domestic distribution of defective and faulty products recalled in foreign countries, including Europe, Canada and US, in 2019. As a result, it found that 137 products* in total were distributed in the domestic market, and thus recommended the exporters and distributors in question to take corrective measures, including sales suspension of the recalled products.

*increased by 3.7% (five (5) products) compared to 2018 (132 products)

Out of the 137 products, 135 products whose domestic official importers and distributors were not confirmed were deleted from posts for sale or suspended for sale through a regular consultative body of mail order brokers*. And the other two (2) products whose domestic importers and distributors were confirmed provided free repairs**.

* The KCA, Naver(shopping), 11STREET, eBay Korea (Auction, Gmarket, G9), Interpark(shopping), and Coupang participate in the consultative body in order to secure safety of products distributed online.

** replacement of faulty parts, repairs, etc.

□ Among 137 products for which corrective measures were taken, kids & baby products accounted for 39.4%.

By product item, kids & baby products (e.g. toys and baby carrier blankets) accounted for 39.4% (54 products) of the monitored products (137 products), followed by food and beverage products at 26.3% (36 products) and home appliances & electronic communication devices at 10.2% (14 products).

By recall reason, in the case of kids & baby products (54 products), many recalls were conducted due to harmful substances contained in the products (20 products, 37.0%) and concerns over the possibility of swallowing small parts of toys (17 products, 31.5%), and in particular, squishies which are widely used by children for sensory play were found to be frequently recalled due to those reasons. And the most common reasons for the recalls of food and beverage products (36 products) were no indication of allergenic ingredients (15 products, 41.7%) and bacteria detection (11 products, 30.6%). Especially, in the case of refreshments, including snacks and chocolates, allergenic ingredients, such as milk, peanuts and wheat, were not properly indicated on the product labels.

  * Injury: physical harm caused by product breakage (e.g. laceration, abrasion, electric shock, etc.)

Meanwhile, as a result of the investigation on 72 products* whose countries of origin were confirmed, the products made in China accounted for the largest share of 48.6% (35 products), followed by the products made in US at 30.6% (22 products).

* 65 products whose countries of origin were not confirmed were excluded.

□ The result of monitoring found that 23.7% (31 products) of the products whose sales were blocked were being distributed.

As a result of the distribution monitoring on 131 products* for which the period of sales suspension has exceeded three (3) months, among the products whose sales were blocked in 2019, 31 products (23.7%) were found to be distributed in the market, and thus they were blocked from sale again.

* Products that were blocked from sale from January to October in 2019 (Products which have been blocked from sale since November are currently being monitored for their distribution)

Products recalled overseas may be distributed in the market through global online distributors even though they have been blocked from sale. Therefore, the KCA will continue its distribution monitoring on the products recalled overseas whose period of sales suspension has exceeded three (3) months.

In addition, the KCA has advised consumers to check overseas recall information through Consumer Injury Surveillance System (www.ciss.go.kr)* or Happy Dream Open Consumer Portal (www.consumer.go.kr)** before making overseas direct purchases or using proxy purchasing sites in order not to purchase products recalled overseas.

* Consumer Injury Surveillance System (www.ciss.go.kr) homepage, ’Safety Issue ？Breaking News regarding Injury Information’

** Happy Dream Open Consumer Portal (www.consumer.go.kr) homepage, ’Product Safety Information ？ Breaking News regarding Injury Information’