“Websites failing to protect consumers from toxic plastic toys”, 9 Oct 2019

… Stress-relieving plastic toys… sell well on China’s e-commerce sites… No matter how they are handled, they always return to their original shape because they contain “plasticisers” that make them more flexible and less brittle.

But plasticisers can also be toxic. In particular, phthalates are one class of chemical used as a plasticiser that increase the risk of asthma and allergies and can interfere with hormone production, causing issues such as low sperm count or early puberty.

… Toxics Free China and the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation published a report on the safety of plastic toys being sold online, warning of hazardous plasticisers and loopholes in their regulation on e-commerce sites.

Most of these plastic novelties lack safety certificates and required information on date and place of manufacture.

Of the 12 rubber ducks purchased and analysed for the study, nine contained 123 to 312 times the permitted levels of plasticisers. These items were bought on Taobao, JD and Pinduoduo, three big e-commerce sites…

In line with World Trade Organisation agreements and common international practice, the China Compulsory Certification (3C) system came into force in 2009, for products with health risks to people, other animals, plants or the environment. Plastic toys are one of the seven major product categories listed in the 3C system. Safety standards, including maximum plasticiser level, have to be met before the toys can leave the factory.

But Toxics Free China has found that only half of the first 300 listings for rubber ducks on shopping websites include certification data; and those sometimes include dead links, copied or out-of-date details and lack key information such as manufacturer’s name and address..

Prior to the publication of its report, Toxics Free China and some parents had reported issues to the shopping sites, quality supervision bureaus and consumer associations. Of the websites, only Pinduoduo responded, saying products breaching standards would be removed from sale, with checks to be carried out on similar toys…

Wen Ruihuan told China Dialogue that the… sites could put more resources into overseeing merchants trading on their platform, and remove those lacking certification data from view…

Chinese laws, such as the e-commerce law which came into force at the start of this year, now place higher regulatory requirements on e-commerce sites, making them responsible for problem products. But according to Wen Ruihuan, efforts by Toxics Free China to work with online shopping sites have not gone smoothly. The sites have either not responded, or simply removed problematic products without taking measures to prevent similar issues reoccurring.

“Taobao only started to remove products from sale after an online outcry,” Wen said. “But when asked about better oversight and auditing, they say they don’t respond to feedback from the non-governmental sector.”

Given the unhelpful attitude of the sites, Wen said Toxics Free China and the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation are considering using public interest litigation to force online shopping sites to fulfil their duty to ensure merchants reveal accurate certification data…