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The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) has ordered a total of five childrens footwear products to be recalled by online platforms Shein and Temu after tests revealed these products to be non-compliant with the REACH Regulation 1907/2006 due to the presence of chemicals that exceed the legal limits, namely cadmium, lead, phthalates, and paraffins. While phthalates are normally used as plasticizers to soften and increase the flexibility of these materials, paraffins are used as flame retardants, while lead and cadmium in dyes and paints give colour.
However, the presence of these chemicals is restricted due to the potential harm to human health. These tests were carried out at an accredited laboratory by the Technical Regulations Division within the MCCAA. A total of 10 childrens clothing and footwear products, namely printed T-shirts, matching sets, slippers, and rain boots, were tested. It is to be noted that while no failures were detected for the clothing items, the same cannot be said for the footwear products, as five out of the five slippers and rain boots tested were found to be noncompliant with the applicable regulation.
