Manufacturers of portable oxygen canisters will be obligated to submit test results proving their safety and effectiveness, starting November 1, when applying for the license to sell them, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said Friday. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Manufacturers of portable oxygen canisters will be obligated to submit test results proving their safety and effectiveness, starting November 1, when applying for the license to sell them, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said Friday.
The producers of the oxygen canisters are required to show that the products they make do not contain toxic materials, the ministry said.
The enhanced regulations for the sale of the portable oxygen canisters come amid a rise in demand for such products, along with air purifiers, dust masks and other equipment that people believe can protect them from air pollution.
South Korea, affected by prevailing winds from industrial areas of China in late winter and spring, experiences higher-than-usual levels of particulate matter in the atmosphere.
According to online retailer 11st, demand for dust masks shot up 346 percent, sales of air purifiers shot up 81 percent and those of portable oxygen canisters soared 784 percent on-year from Feb. 21-27 when the weather service issued frequent fine dust advisories.
(Yonhap)
