Certain apparel made by 28 clothing brands sold in these stores failed quality inspections earlier this month because they contained unsafe materials, the administration found.

The BAIC ordered the substandard apparel off all shelves in all stores in Beijing. Both the sellers and producers of the clothing may face prosecution, while the producers have been ordered out of the Beijing market.

Of the 28 brands listed, certain apparel made by four companies was found to contain excessive levels of chemicals like aromatic ammine or formaldehyde, which are both carcinogenic substances.

Many countries have banned the use of the former as a dye, while the latter is generally not allowed in consumer products.

Apparel from the four unsafe brands were: Ming-Langdike skirts (size 11), made by the Guangzhou Disheng company; Pusheng blouses (155/80A), made by Shanghai Pusheng; Jeanberger trousers (170/80A), made by Shenzhen Zhonghang; and Hafulu trousers (size 23), made by the Guangdong Hafulu.

The BAIC inspectors also found that apparel made by four brands exceeded the allowable pH values for clothing. The use of materials with excessive acidity or alkalinity could irritate people's skin.

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