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Thailand: Consumer Protection Board proposes labelling for phone cases containing liquid chemicals

February 2018- Relevant for: Hardlines

Thailand’s Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) recently notified World Trade Organisation (WTO) the draft on labelling requirements¹ for mobile phone and tablet covered accessories (cases) containing liquid chemicals. It is proposed such cases should carry a label with the warning text “Danger liquid leakage”, with a different colour from the product, in a larger font size than other statement, and be displayed permanently.

WTO opens a 60-day consultation period until 10 March 2018. Once the proposal is adopted, it will enter into force 30 days after its publication in the Government Gazette.

In this announcement, "Case for mobile phone and tablet computer containing liquid chemical" means the devices designated to protect mobile phones and tablet computers which contain decane, nonane, heptane and oxalic acid or other acid chemicals. Since there were reports of chemical burns after the phone cases leaked, the OCPB considered this labelling requirement is necessary to disclose such information to protect consumers from the use of the products.

In 2017, mobile phone cases containing liquid and glitters had been reported in different countries including European Union, USA, Canada and Australia.

[1] WTO notification G/TBT/N/THA/505