Consumer Council Finds Major Gaps in Sanitary Pad Quality and Labelling
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's Consumer Council released survey results on Monday revealing substantial variations in the quality and labelling of disposable sanitary pads sold locally. Testing 36 winged sanitary towel models purchased from personal care stores, supermarkets and online platforms priced between HK$1 and HK$5.60 per piece, the watchdog uncovered absorption speed discrepancies of up to tenfold between the fastest and slowest products in certain size categories. One sample took 73 seconds to fully absorb simulated menstrual blood, surpassing the mainland China national standard recommendation of 60 seconds or less. The council also found that 19 of the 36 samples did not disclose their surface materials in either Chinese or English, while one product lacked any expiration date information and five failed to provide local supplier details. Nevertheless, all 36 samples passed safety and hygiene assessments, meeting standards for pH values, peel adhesion and structural consistency, including checks for formaldehyde and fluorescent substances .
Key Points
- One sanitary pad sample required 73 seconds for complete absorption, breaching the mainland China standard of 60 seconds maximum
- Sixteen of the 36 tested samples absorbed simulated menstrual blood within just 10 seconds, with Kotex recording the fastest speed at 7 seconds
- Among pads measuring 22-25 cm in length, absorption speeds varied by a factor of seven to ten between the fastest and slowest models
- Nineteen samples, or over half the tested products, omitted information on surface materials in both Chinese and English on their packaging
- All 36 sanitary pad models passed safety tests, with pH values ranging from 5.7 to 6.2 and no detection of formaldehyde or fluorescent substances
Why It Matters
The survey highlights that Hong Kong women face challenges in making informed choices when purchasing sanitary products, given widespread labelling deficiencies that prevent proper assessment of materials and shelf life. While the products met safety standards, slow absorption can cause discomfort and increase the risk of side leakage during menstruation, underscoring the need for manufacturers to improve both product performance and transparency. The Consumer Council's findings provide a basis for consumers to demand better quality information and for regulators to consider strengthening labelling requirements for personal care products sold in Hong Kong .
The survey highlights that Hong Kong women face challenges in making informed choices when purchasing sanitary products, given widespread labelling deficiencies that prevent proper assessment of materials and shelf life. While the products met safety standards, slow absorption can cause discomfort and increase the risk of side leakage during menstruation, underscoring the need for manufacturers to improve both product performance and transparency. The Consumer Council's findings provide a basis for consumers to demand better quality information and for regulators to consider strengthening labelling requirements for personal care products sold in Hong Kong .