Greens call for wide-ranging investigation of contamination

The Government must launch a thorough investigation into clothing sold in New Zealand to determine the extent of formaldehyde contamination, the Green Party says.

“We need to urgently develop legally enforceable standards, based on the World Health Organisation recommended standard, and a system of random monitoring to ensure they are enforced,” Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley says.

“This issue needs urgent leadership from Government to ensure that New Zealanders can have confidence in the safety of the t-shirts, pants and pyjamas they and their children are wearing,” Ms Kedgley says.

“Any clothing lines identified as having high levels of formaldehyde or other contaminants need to be urgently recalled.

“The findings of the Target programme have exposed the inadequacy of the weak and ineffective consumer protection regulations we have in New Zealand.

“We have an entirely passive, reactive system of responding to consumer complaints, and this is exposing consumers to unsafe products. If the Government is going to continue to encourage a flood of cheap imports coming into New Zealand, they must set in place legally enforceable standards and random monitoring at the borders.

“Without legally enforceable standards, importers bringing in goods with dangerously high levels of formaldehyde or other contaminants in them could argue they are not breaching any law, and continue to do so.

“Retailers must also take some responsibility for the products they sell and should be held accountable if they are found to be selling products that are in breach of the standards,” Ms Kedgley says.