South Korea consumer agency requests safety standards for POPs after detecting SCCPs in plastic products

On April 2, 2024, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that it had detected Short-chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs), a persistent organic pollutant (POP) exceeding relevant European standards in some products, as a result of a survey of plastic products and children's products (about 40 different models in four categories) commercially available in the domestic market. Specifically, the Agency conducted tests for SCCP levels over about 40 different product models in four categories: kitchen mats, slippers, kids' raincoats, and gym balls. The tests detected SCCPs in 10 models, with 5 products exceeding European standards of 1,500mg/kg, ranging from 4,120mg/kg to 163,000mg/kg. The Consumer Agency pointed out that in Korea, products containing chemical substances are separately regulated by different governmental departments in accordance with their governing fields, and therefore, it is necessary to establish safety standards for products containing POPs by individual laws and regulations under their respective responsibilities. Given such a situation, the Agency stated it will urge the government to establish safety standards, especially for SCCPs in plastic products, as a priority target.