A large number of scented mask stickers on sale in South Korea were found to be inconsistent with safety regulations and were named and stopped by relevant departments recently. Scented mask stickers have been very popular in South Korea apart from other new products related to face masks as masks have become a must-have item for everyone’s life with the prolonged pandemic situation.
In the well-known Sinchon business district in Seoul, many shops are selling scented mask stickers, claiming that they can eliminate the stuffiness and odor of wearing masks, and even relieve bad breath and nasal congestion. Stick it on the surface of the mask, and it will give off a variety of aromas such as mint and lemon.
However, the Korean Consumer Agency, the consumer protection agency of the Korean government, recently tested 49 hot-selling scented mask stickers produced by 49 manufacturers and found that all products have not been formally declared and have not passed the relevant agency’s safety inspections. The Korea Consumer Agency has already ordered all the companies to stop sales.
Since the scented mask stickers will be in close contact with the mouth and nose and other respiratory organs for a long time when in use, it is likely to have an impact on the respiratory tract and has certain safety risks. Therefore, safety evaluation should be carried out according to relevant standards before going on the market, and a formal declaration should be made to the environmental department after it is confirmed safe and harmless to the human body.
However, almost all scented mask stickers on the Korean market have not undergone such a procedure. The reporter learned that of the 49 manufacturers that have been inspected, only one company currently plans to conduct safety inspections on the stickers. Some manufacturers will stop production, and 60% of them said they will change the scented mask stickers to ordinary fragrance products that are not used for masks, so as to continue to sell them afterward.
Nevertheless, many people worry that even if the purpose and nature of the scented stickers are changed, there will still be a large number of unknowing consumers who will continue to stick them on the masks after purchase.
In fact, in South Korea, the scented mask stickers have become a standing product for many people, especially by patients with rhinitis and children, and some young people also regard it as a “fashion item.”
Up to now, such scented mask stickers are not only still widely circulated on major e-commerce platforms in South Korea, but also available on Chinese e-commerce platforms, and are widely recommended on Chinese social media. The Korean Consumer Agency emphasized that consumers should stop using this product immediately.
In addition, when purchasing fragrances and deodorants, which are commonly used in daily life, it is also necessary to confirm the safety certification of the product and use it carefully within the approved scope of use.
Source: CCTV Finance