China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, along with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Health Commission, and National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, announced a joint investigation today into alleged presence of formamide in baby diapers sold by brands including Babycare, Huggies, and Bibabebe [1, 2, 3].
The investigation follows a report published on June 18 by Economic Information Daily that found traces of formamide, a synthetic industrial chemical considered a reproductive toxicant that can cause dizziness and skin irritation, in diapers from these brands [1, 3].
The brands firmly denied the allegations on June 21, citing internal and third-party retests that detected no traces of formamide in their products [1, 2]. Huggies also announced it would pursue legal action over what it described as false, misleading, and malicious information harming its brand reputation [2].
Authorities emphasized they will carry out the probe in accordance with the law and handle any violations found. The State Administration for Market Regulation said, "The relevant information will be promptly announced" [2].
The probe involves multiple government bodies aiming to verify the safety of baby diapers available on the market. Their findings will inform any regulatory or legal measures that may follow [3].
