Clothes made in China pose health risks: Greenpeace

Want China Times, CNA 2013-12-18

A children's clothing fashion show in Beijing, Oct 29. (Photo/Xinhua)

The Taiwanese branch of Greenpeace on Monday warned consumers of "unpredictable health risks" associated with Chinese-made garments and footwear, saying that it had found dangerously high level of residues of harmful chemicals in childrenswear made in China.

Of 85 items sourced from two manufacturing centers of children's clothing in China, more than half were found to contain overly high levels of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE)and over 90% had residues of antimony, a poisonous chemical used to produce flame retardants, Greenpeace's offices in Taipei said.

Zhili in Zhejiang province and Shishi in Fujian province are China's major bases for the manufacture and export of children's clothing.

Greenpeace said its Beijing office had purchased samples of the products on shopping websites and at retail outlets between June and October this year to carry out tests.

Nearly half a million people in Taiwan regularly buy clothes and shoes on Chinese websites, according to Greenpeace Taiwan.

"The purchase of these products online or at retail outlets comes with unpredictable health risks," it warned.

The group called on all manufacturers to pledge to phase out the use of NPE, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and other toxic chemicals by 2020.