Formaldehyde in Clothing

4th SEPTEMBER, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

TV3’s Target show applied the wrong test when making claims about levels of formaldehyde in clothing

Thousands of people may have been deeply concerned by the allegations made on TV3’s Target programme on 21st August about the safety of some clothes sold by New Zealand retailers. 

Since becoming aware of this report The New Zealand Retailers Association has worked closely with its members and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to investigate the programme’s claims that formaldehyde was present at high levels in clothes tested.

Retailers have supplied lists of clothing across a range of categories to enable Government to randomly select and complete their testing process. At the same time retailers have also submitted items for independent testing at laboratories in New Zealand and overseas.

John Albertson CEO of the NZ Retailers Association said that tests conducted by AgResearch in New Zealand, the SGS Textile testing centre in Shanghai and Intertek in Hong Kong have confirmed that formaldehyde was not detected in pants and other garments tested.

“This testing process will continue however scientists tell us that the testing process used by the Target show is flawed because it is not based on accepted international standards. Put simply they applied the wrong test and have now been forced to admit this. It would have taken the same amount of time to get the test right as to get it wrong”

“Subsequent news coverage has claimed that formaldehyde levels exceed these international standards, which is simply not the case. We are not comparing apples with apples. This inaccurate reporting has caused unnecessary upset for many New Zealanders and has put at risk our global reputation. We hope that the media that has continued this misinformation will now rectify their reporting.”

“Initial Tests carried out independently at separate laboratories (Ag Research, SGS and Intertek) all confirm that free formaldehyde is non detectable in the products submitted by retailers for testing. We expect these tests to be replicated across the range of products submitted for testing both in the Government process and independent retailer testing.”

Mr Albertson added that Association is supportive of an industry standard based on international best practice as this will help prevent such blatant misinterpretation of test protocols.

CONCLUSION

Based on independent tests, clothes and textiles sold in New Zealand do not contain levels of formaldehyde in excess of international safe standards.

Note to editors:-

The European Union’s benchmark standard is 30 parts per million free formaldehyde for infant garments, 75ppm free formaldehyde for garments which contact the skin and 300ppm free formaldehyde for other garments or fabrics.

Contacts:

John Albertson: 027 445 9400

Barry Hellberg: 021 673480

Lyn Mayes: 021 471 261