
Chinese consumer group accuses Apple and Xiaomi of selling phone cases with toxic substances
Xiaomi cries foul, saying the standards used by the group aren't appropriate
Apple and Xiaomi are being accused by a consumer group in China of selling phone cases with toxic substances -- but Xiaomi is crying foul.
The Shenzhen Consumer Council says phone cases from Apple, Xiaomi, Tiya, Yuening and Q-Guo contain harmful substances exceeding European safety standards.

Xiaomi pushed back, saying the safety standards in question were inappropriate because they were meant for children’s tableware and utensils. But the consumer watchdog insisted they were relevant, because some consumers were worried that children might bite phone covers.
Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city bordering Hong Kong, is home to some of the country’s biggest tech companies -- including Tencent, Huawei and DJI. Together with foreign giants like Apple, many rely on nearby factories to make their products. The most famous one is operated by Foxconn, which has been assembling iPhones for years.
The city churns out 70% of phone cases sold in China, according to the Shenzhen Consumer Council.
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