Clothes scare not warranted?

NATIONAL: An industry probe into the dangerous levels of formaldehyde in clothing imported from China may have been for nothing.

A New Zealand consumer affairs television program sparked a national outcry across both sides of the Tasman when it revealed tests it had undertaken on clothing sold through NZ-based surplus chain the Warehouse had found dangerous levels of formaldehyde in children's clothing.

With some tests showing amounts up to 900 times the level that causes harm, the show's producer said wearers were effectively being "poisoned". The stock was immediately pulled from shelves.

Public outcry forced the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and major retailers to move to implement a clothing safety standard, despite there being no evidence that clothing in Australia was tainted.

New Zealand industry group The Retailers Federation commissioned a set of proper tests for free formaldehyde from three different laboratories and found little or no trace of the chemical.

It has since emerged the program used the wrong test - testing clothing for total formaldehyde content rather than for unbound "free" formaldehyde – the amount of the chemical that easily comes loose from the garment and is potentially dangerous.

It is understood the makers of the television programme stand by their claims, maintaining clothes that complied with international standards could still be dangerous.

They have refused to apologise for the claims arguing they believed no apology was necessary.