Emerging consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea

1. Emerging consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea November 1, 2011 Korea Consumer Agency Dr. Eun-sill Choi International Cooperation Team

2. Contents I. Injury information collecting system in Korea 1. What is the CISS? 2. Main points of the CISS in Korea 3. Operating procedure of the CISS at the KCA II. Consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea 1. Safety accidents caused by household products 2. Consumer products containing harmful substance 3. Safety accidents involving the vulnerable consumer group 4. Other III. Q&A

3. Injury information collecting system in Korea • 1. What is the CISS? • ■ The Korea Consumer Agency has been operating the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) in order to protect consumers from harmful goods. With the system, we collect consumer injury information through major hospitals, fire stations and hotlines nationwide and take proper actions.

4. Injury information collecting system in Korea 2. Main points of the CISS in Korea ■ In order to identify harmful goods, it is effective to collect information of incidents that actually happen to consumers. The information is collected from fire stations and hospitals which get direct incident report. ■ How to collect injury information is almost identical around the world. According to the Framework Act on Consumer, the Korean Government designates agencies submitting injury information such as major hospitals and fire stations and the Consumer Safety Center at the KCA collects and analyzes injury information and take proper actions . ● 84 Injury information-submitting agencies: Major 66 hospital ● emergency rooms and 18 fire stations nationwide ● Collected information amount (2008-2011) : 161,868 cases

5. Injury information collecting system in Korea 3. Operating procedure of the CISS at the KCA Consumer Claim (Consumer Counseling Hotline, Internet) Proposing corrective measures or recall to the Business CISS (Consumer Injury Surveillance System) Information collection Analysis & Investigation Injury Information Reporting Agencies (Hospitals, Fire station, etc.) Proposing safety system improvement Nationwide consumer counseling network (KCA, Consumer organizations, Local governments) Issuing alarm and announcing the fact (press release, report, etc.) Cooperating agencies (National Fire Data System of National Emergency Management Agency) Information provision to related agencies

6. Consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea • Safety accidents caused by household products • ■ One touch mini can accident caused by the sharp blade • ■ cork heat pot stand with high fire risk • ■ Christmas decoration and ornament with high fire risk • Consumer products containing harmful substance • ■ Imported shoes found to have dimethylfumarate, causing skin disease • ■ Credit card receipt found to have ‘bisphenol A’

7. Consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea • Safety accidents involving the vulnerable consumer group • ■ Ornament for children clothes causing choking accident • ■ Bathroom tile causing slip and fall accident for senior citizens • ■ Children’s sleepwear without flame resistant • ■ Magnetic-included household products and toys: Children injury risk

8. Consumer product safety trend and issues in Korea • Other • ■ Nano products increase (baby products): hazard validation issue • ■ Leisure ATV: fall accidents • ■ Electronic eyelash curler

9. Q&A

10. Thank you!