In 2013, during the fourth quarter, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released the results of a random quality inspection on 8 products, including children’s furniture. Among 61 batches of children’s furniture from 61 different companies, 33 failed the inspection, including well-known brands like Quanyou and Douai. The failure rate exceeded 50%, raising concerns about the safety and standards of children’s furniture in the market.
Among the unqualified products, 23 batches failed due to "sharp edges and corners," accounting for nearly 70% of all failures. Another 17 batches failed because of missing or inadequate warning signs. One notable case was a swivel chair branded “Hua Xiang Duo Duo,†which failed due to excessive formaldehyde emissions from wooden materials—making it the only batch with this specific issue.
According to the national standard GB 28007-2011, children’s furniture must not have sharp edges or corners. Edges should be rounded or chamfered, especially those below 1600mm from the ground, with a minimum radius of 10mm or an arc length of at least 15mm. Despite these clear regulations, many companies, including well-known ones like Quanyou and Songbao Kingdom, failed to meet these requirements.
Industry experts suggest that the main reason behind such issues is a lack of attention to safety standards rather than technical or cost constraints. Sun Shudong, director of the Furniture Inspection Laboratory, emphasized that while meeting these standards is feasible, some companies choose not to prioritize them due to cost considerations.
The problem extends beyond production. In retail settings, sales staff often focus on marketing materials as environmentally friendly, but rarely highlight structural safety details. For example, in a well-known children’s furniture store in Beijing, samples had sharp corners that did not meet the national standard, posing potential risks to children.
Another store displayed brightly colored furniture without proper warning labels. Although the company claimed to use eco-friendly paint, they could not provide test reports confirming compliance. This highlights a gap between marketing claims and actual product safety.
While excessive formaldehyde remains a concern, it wasn’t the primary cause of failure in this round of inspections. However, industry insiders warn that it should still be taken seriously. Formaldehyde levels are closely tied to the quality of materials used, and many companies opt for cheaper, substandard materials to cut costs.
Many parents are unaware of how to properly evaluate children’s furniture. While some focus on formaldehyde content, others overlook critical safety features like rounded edges. Ms. Cheng, a parent shopping for her five-year-old son, admitted she checks for environmental certifications and smells, but isn't fully aware of other safety aspects.
Mr. Wang, planning to renovate his home, mentioned he heard about new standards but doesn’t fully understand them. Many consumers are unfamiliar with the specifics of the 2012 “General Technical Conditions for Children’s Furniture†standard.
A representative from the China Furniture Association explained that children’s furniture requires stricter safety and environmental protections due to children’s weaker immune systems. The new standard aims to improve market conditions and help consumers make informed choices.
Overall, the need for better awareness, stricter enforcement, and more transparency in both production and sales has become increasingly urgent.
ZHITONG PIPE VALVE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD , https://www.ztongvalve.com