"Illegal Products With Unclear Ingredients Rampant"... Fake Mosquito Repellents in China Spark Controversy

“Illegal Sales of Products Without Chemical Insecticide Labeling”
Some Marketed as ‘Eco-Friendly’ Without Disclosing Insecticide Ingredients

Controversy has arisen in China as illegal mosquito repellent products with unclear ingredients are being sold.

On June 1, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, “Mosquito repellents sold on online shopping platforms are advertised as safe products made from natural ingredients, but a significant number of these products are being sold illegally without disclosing their chemical insecticide ingredients.”

Mosquito repellent products sold on Chinese online e-commerce platforms. Not related to any specific content.

Labeling Differs by Brand: Cosmetics, Insecticides, and More

To ensure consumer safety, China’s central agricultural and rural government departments announced relevant certification standards in 2021. Products labeled as having mosquito repellent or mosquito eliminating functions are classified as insecticides (quasi-drugs), regardless of whether they use plant-based or chemical ingredients. CCTV reported that after purchasing and analyzing mosquito repellents from various brands based on consumer tips, it found that the labeling varied by brand, with some marked as cosmetics and others as insecticides.

While the external packaging often features plants such as mugwort to convey an eco-friendly image, some products are sold without authorization because they lack the necessary qualifications to manufacture or register insecticides. To evade crackdowns, the packaging and product names cleverly omit the term “mosquito repellent.” These products are promoted as eco-friendly mosquito repellents, but in reality, they are misrepresented and sold without being properly classified as insecticides. Conversely, some products actually contain insecticides but are falsely marketed as “eco-friendly products without insecticides” to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Experts: “Use Reputable Brands... Authorities Must Step Up Crackdowns”

CCTV also reported, “Even in large wholesale markets, illegal mosquito repellents disguised as ‘cosmetics’ are actively distributed,” and explained, “Under current law, any substance with chemical repellent ingredients—even those rated as low-toxicity—must be labeled with an insecticide warning and specify the concentration of each ingredient.” It added that consumers must check this information to avoid side effects such as skin irritation or allergic reactions, and to prevent misuse among infants, young children, and pregnant women.

On May 29, Sina Finance in China reported that sales of mosquito repellent products have surged as the weather warms, and recommended using reputable brands. Quoting an expert, Sina Finance stated, “With the increasing variety of mosquito repellent products, there are also many with unclear ingredients, so it is important to choose products from trustworthy brands,” emphasizing, “Infants, pregnant women, and all age groups should use safe products suitable for everyone.”

Liu Qiyong, Chief Expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told CCTV, “Products containing chemical ingredients have clear usage restrictions for different users, but a large number of low-priced illegal products are being released in large quantities for price competitiveness, making a prompt crackdown by authorities necessary.” He further explained, “If people with allergies or other sensitivities use these products unknowingly, it could lead to serious risks.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.