Executive Yuan’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) randomly selected 15 commercial adult diapers for quality testings and labeling checks. Three products did not meet quality requirements, while five did not comply with labeling requirements. They have been investigated and dealt with by the MOEA’s Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI) and Central Region Office in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act and Commodity Labeling Act.
Our country has progressed to an aged society. Adult diapers are a product highly depended on by parts of the senior population and some people with disabilities. Between August and October this year (2020), the DCP randomly selected and tested 15 adult diapers of different brands obtained in physical stores in the Greater Taipei area and through online channels. Tests including formaldehyde emission, migratable fluorescent substances, surface dryness, leakage, and urine application and retention were appointed to inspection companies; and the Central Region Office, MOEA conducted product labeling checks.
I. Quality Inspections: Of the 15 inspected diapers, 12 met all the requirements, while 3 failed to meet the requirements.
(I) Formaldehyde emission, migratable fluorescent substances, and leakage tests: All 15 met the requirements.
(II) Surface dryness (reverse-seepage volume): 3 Did not meet the requirements; flawed diapers were ones with an amount of reverse-seepage that exceeded the limit of 30 grams.
(III) Urine application and retention: 1 Did not meet the requirements; the flawed diaper’s amount of vertical urine retention did not reach the standard of 400 grams.
II. Labeling check: Of the 15 inspected diapers, 10 met all the requirements, while 5 failed to meet the requirements. The main issue with the flawed products was a lack of relevant information about importers or manufacturers. For example: the name, address and telephone number of the importer were not labeled.
The 3 brands that did not meet quality requirements were handled by BSMI. If there are any violations of the law, in accordance with Article 58 of the Consumer Protection Act, the brands will be required to make improvements within a time limit. If the improvements are not made within the time limit, a fine of not less than NT$60,000 but not more than NT$1,500,000 will be imposed for each time of non-compliance. For the 5 brands that did not meet labeling requirements, in accordance with Article 15 of the Commodity Labeling Act, the Central Region Office of MOEA requested relevant local governments to notify the companies that corrections must be made within a time limit. Companies that do not make the corrections within the time limit, a fine of not less than NT$20,000 but not more than NT$100,000 will be imposed.
Executive Yuan’s DCP would like to remind consumers that when purchasing adult diapers, consumers should pay attention to not only the size but also whether the labels indicate basic information of the importer or manufacturer, the place of origin, precautions for use and other relevant information. Consumers should also use the products correctly in accordance to relevant precautions for product use. Pay extra attention for extra peace of mind. A good consumption environment depends on our continuous collective efforts.