Chinanews, Shanghai, Jan. 19 – Shanghai Municipal Industry and Commerce Bureau (SMICB) conducted a random inspection in several shopping malls in Shanghai on January 18, 2007, finding that 25 products of 24 famous international clothes brands were substandard in respect of formaldehyde residue amount, ph value, the dye fastness, fiber content and marking, including the products of Chanel, Burberry and Armani.

 

The inspection covered 59 samples (43 marked imported) from 40 different brands, only 57.6% of which were proved to be qualified. SMICB has published the result of the inspection and forced the substandard products off shelves, and fines will be imposed on the enterprises that produce or sell them.

 

“The prices of these substandard products varies from several thousand to even tens of thousands yuan, and we are shocked to find so many quality problems with such high-end products,” said one from SMICB. At present, SMICB is planning a further inspection that covers all the shopping malls in Shanghai.

 

SMICB says that it will give green light to the products with marking problems after rectification.

 

Giorgio Armani Hong Kong has faxed a letter of apology to a local newspaper in Shanghai, promising it will take immediate action to solve the problem.