Category: GARMENTS
Country: Bangladesh
Region: Asia
By Akhi Akter & Arif-Uz-Zaman
November 5, 2023 5:06 PM
Senior Investing Writer Dan Burrows once wrote that if there’s one thing consumers, investors and companies can agree on, they hate recalls (product withdrawals). In the least of cases, faulty products are an inconvenience for the unlucky buyers.
What is product recall?
According to Statista, a product recall is a request to return a product after the discovery of subpar quality standards, safety issues, or product defects that might endanger the consumer and/or put the maker or seller at risk of legal action. The recall is an effort to ensure public safety, limit ruination of the corporate image, and limit liability for corporate negligence, which can cause the responsible company significant legal costs. Even if an item that was deemed unsafe is removed from store shelves, few steps are taken to actually remove said item from homes, facilities, second-hand stores, and garage sales. Coupled with the reality that many consumers may be unaware of any product-related hazards or incidents, it results in millions of recalled products remaining in use.
Last January BMW issued a recall notice for over 14,000 electric vehicles for a software malfunction that could lead to a loss of power and an increased risk of a crash. The automaker said that the recall covers certain iX SUVs and i4 and i7 sedans produced between October 14th, 2021, and October 28th, 2022. The software issue relates to the high voltage battery electronic control unit.
Happening such product recall is normal and can happen with any products of any countries. If it happens manufacturers should take it seriously as they can continue their business smoothly and do not lose their reputation.
Products made by Bangladesh recalled
Recently a report has been published in a national daily ‘Ajker Patrika’ that claimed, various brands of clothing made in factories in Bangladesh are being forced to withdraw from the markets of 12 countries around the world, including the United States. However, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said that this news is "wrong", though the national daily presented some data.
Abdullah Hil Rakib, Managing Director of TEAM Group said, “Actually this is an exaggerated news. There was a technical fault in a consignment which came from a particular buyer. Those products were recalled from the market as they appeared hazardous. But our news media presented it in such a way that as if 12 countries banned Bangladeshi RMG, which is absolutely not the case. We will issue a rejoinder today. Meanwhile the news media which has published this news has deleted it from their site.”
The Daily Star published a news today quoting Health Canada, the department of the Canadian government. Health Canada asked to withdraw 216,595 units of George Brand Sleepers made in Bangladesh for health risks. The affected products were sold from November 2022 to June 2023, it said on its website.
The zipper pulls and foot grips of the George Brand Sleepers may fall off or be removed through repeated washing, posing choking and ingestion hazards, it said.
"Consumers can refer to the provided illustration for the impacted patterns. Affected sleepers can be returned to Wal-Mart stores for a full refund."
However, the regulator has not received any reports of incidents or injuries in Canada as of September 21, 2023.
The products were manufactured in Bangladesh by Gazipur-based Unique Designers Ltd and distributed by PDS Far-East Ltd of Kowloon, Hong Kong, according to a Canadian government website.
These types of withdrawal have been seen in the different countries for many products which are not uncommon. According to Statista, in 2021, a total of 15 apparel products had been recalled in the United States, which is more than in 2020, but somewhat less than in earlier years. Back in 2017, about 30 clothing items in the United States had been issued a recall. And any Bangladesh-made apparel was not withdrawn.
“According to the report (there is doubt whether the report is true or fake), a few issues happened with a few brands of 12 countries, it does not mean that 12 countries rejected Bangladesh-made products. The fabric matters including the size and design of the garment are made as per the details given by the buyer.”
-Md. Ashikur Rahman (Tuhin), Founder and Managing Director of TAD Group
He also said, “There may have a technical fault. It can happen with any country’s supplier. But issues on clothing may be found after shipping and they can return it and ask refund, repair or replacement, how you return a faulty product to retailer.”
“The goods can be faulty even it is lab-tested and inspected by third party; because it is randomly tested and inspected. However, if the garment has problem with the size specification or other factors from the buyer side - then the manufacturer will not be responsible for that.”
-Sheikh H M Mustafiz, Managing Director, Cute Dress
According to the authority of Unique Designers Ltd., they have provided the quality products as per demand of Singapore-based buying house PDS-Fareast Ltd. to supply to Walmart in Canada. Otherwise PDS-Fareast Limited would not have supplied these apparel to Walmart. Therefore, if there is a problem, it may be in the PDS, not the Bangladeshi factory.
Actually, garments made in Bangladesh are recognized worldwide for the quality. A series of compliance issues by foreign buyers has resulted in a lot of investment by the entrepreneurs in the country. There are currently over 200 USGBC certified green factories. In the past decades, Bangladesh has been exporting garments according to the demand of buyers.
Work in garment factories is managed through different departments and is done in teams. Merchandising department works on rapid sample development by collecting accurate information from the buyer and sampling department develops samples according to the buyer's demand. Once the sample is approved, it goes into production.
The function of Fabrics Testing Lab Department is to check the quality of fabrics and provide information to the buyer. The quality control department checks whether there is any problem in the garment or not. Also, shipment is done after completion of various stages of garment washing department, finishing department and other departments.
Besides, garments are lab tested by a third party before being shipped. If there is any harmful substance, it is detected immediately. Buyers would certainly not have ordered the shipment if there were chemicals and life-threatening substances present in the clothing. Even after that some problems may prevail.
Sheikh H M Mustafiz, Managing Director, Cute Dress said to Textile Today, “I have no idea about the actual fact of this claim. Need intensive investigation to understand the loophole of this issue. But in general, I can say that the goods can be faulty even it is lab-tested and inspected by third party; because it is randomly tested and inspected. Imagine, if 10% of the total goods are manufactured in a faulty process and if it is not detected during test/inspection; can go wrong in direction to claim 100% goods as faulty and buyer can withdraw them from the market due to their reputation.”
“However, if the garment has problem with the size specification or other factors from the buyer side - then the manufacturer will not be responsible for that. But you can already feel that it is already hurting 'brand Bangladesh,” he added.
“As brand/retailer are the owners of the products. So brand/retailer should know and ensure product safety requirements before even start producing a product.”
Shafiur Rahman - Country manager at G-Star RAW
“If the manufacturer has to continue business with the same buyer, they also have to take care of this issue as 'after sales service'. On the other hand, manufacturer can negotiate with discount OR remake them as compensation,” said Sheikh H M Mustafiz.
Quoting OECD data, the national daily mentioned that the complaints made by the regulatory bodies of different countries against Bangladeshi-made clothes include the danger of suffocation and injury due to wearing the clothes, the risk of exposure to fire due to looseness, the presence of excessive chemicals in the clothes, the lack of fire resistance standards, etc. the daily also read.
Shafiur Rahman - Country Manager at G-Star RAW told Textile Today, “As brand/retailer are the owners of the products. So brand/retailer should know and ensure product safety requirements before even start producing a product. However manufacturer as a value chain partner – it’s always better to prevent any mistake and ensure product safety requirements by using knowledge, expertise and surely by testing.”
He also said, “Sometime mistake can identify even after in-shop, all responsible brand/retailer should recall those products before happening an incident. It can happen with any manufacturer or any manufacturing country. High tech industry also recall their products if any faults found even after selling.”
Courtesy: Textiletoday.com
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