Firms to follow state measures against chemophobia

Chemical producers and retailers promised to follow the new regulations on chemical products announced by the government on Tuesday.

According to the government, a thorough inspection of the ingredients in chemical products will be done by the first half of next year and harmful products will be immediately banned from sales.

Biocides must be registered even if their quantity is small and a new rule will be established so the products are only to be used for specified purposes, the government said.

The new measures will take effect in order to relieve consumer anxiety over chemical products, which has grown in Korea following tragic deaths caused by toxic humidifier sterilizers.

Firms will be obligated to submit to the government a full list of ingredients in potentially dangerous products. The government will also make agreements with manufacturers and importers to monitor consumer injury cases and establish a stricter safety system.

Chemical product manufacturers including Aekyung, CJ Lion, Yuhan-Clorox, Pigeon, P&G Korea, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser Korea, LG Household & Health Care and SC Johnson Korea said they will make agreements with the government. Some of them are responsible for the sterilizer scandal that killed over 100 people.

AmorePacific, which struggled with toothpastes containing a sterilizer ingredient, has yet to decide whether to cooperate with a government agreement. However, its offi- cial said, “We will strictly monitor product quality and safety standards, after thoroughly examining the new measures.”

Some retailers decided to reveal the ingredients in their private brand chemical products. The Korea Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM) had demanded the firms to do so.

Lotte Mart uploaded the list of its private brand chemical products on its official website. E-mart, Home plus and GS Retail said they would disclose their ingredients as soon as possible.