March 10, 2016
The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has released the “Children’s Products Safety Special Act,” for textile and leather products intended for children aged 13 or under, and infants under 36 months.
Manufactured and imported children’s products must now comply with the following (note links are in Korean):
Safety Confirmation Act
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity Act
Safety Quality Mark Act
Common Safety Standard of Children’s Products
The Safety Confirmation Act and Suppliers’ Declaration of Conformity Act provide the maximum thresholds for hazardous substances in infant and children’s textile and leather products, including clothing, bedding, bags and newborn baby goods. These substances include, but are not limited to:
- Formaldehyde
- Azo dyes
- Phthalates
- Organotin compounds (dibutyltin and tributyltin)
- Total lead
- Nickel release
Lastly, the Common Safety Standard of Children’s Products includes all children’s products, even those that are not manufactured from leather or textiles.
The standard is effective beginning June 4, 2016.