Children's clothing fails safety standards

Children's clothing from international brands including Folli Follie, Disney and Ralph Lauren failed quality tests, posing potential health or safety hazards, Shanghai's market watchdog warned over the weekend.

Twenty-four batches of children's clothing were substandard out of the 100 batches of 51 brands tested, and they failed for rope or pull strap safety, excessive formaldehyde, pH index, color fastness, fiber content and product instruction, the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation said.

They were sold at 13 department stores and shops in six districts such as Jing'an and Huangpu.

Nine failed in rope or pull strap safety, a new index included in China's standards for children's textile products in 2016, and there was a big increase in substandard products failing this test this time compared with previous inspections.

A batch of Folli Follie T-shirts for children sold at Isetan on Nanjing Road W. failed the index, posing potential safety hazards of strangulation, the administration warned.

A batch of children's skirts branded Baby De Mode which were sold at Jiuguang Department Store in Jing'an failed for an excessive amount of formaldehyde, which can cause respiratory diseases or dermatitis.

Another batch of children's skirts and pants branded Disney and sold by Shanghai Disney Resort were found to have a higher  pH index than allowed.

Clothing with substandard pH index will irritate the skin.

A batch of Ralph Lauren trousers for girls sold at Jiuguang failed for poor color fastness from water, sweat stains and rubbing.

Dye in clothing with poor color fastness can bleed into the skin, which can be harmful.

Authorities have ordered the businesses concerned to stop the sales of substandard products immediately and check their stocks.

They have also been ordered to rectify, and investigations are underway, the administration said.