21 JULAI 2016
Dear Cuckoo Malaysia Customers, In response to negative allegations made in a recent article by a Korean publication, we would like to take this opportunity to address the allegations in order to clear the confusion it may have created among some of our Cuckoo users.
The article covers two un-related issues, air purifiers containing the antibacterial substance OIT and exaggerated advertising of products. In relation to the air purifier filters that contain OIT, the Ministry of Environment in Korea has conducted a risk assessment of OIT in air purifier filters and determined that this antibacterial component may pose a health risk.
In the interest of public health it has requested that manufacturers of air purifier filters with OIT recall these products, a decision affecting the majority of air purifier manufacturers. The possibility to be harmful to human health is low.
However, in order to alleviate any potential concerns of our Malaysian customers, we have decided to replace all filters by non-OIT filters, free of charge, with immediate effect.
At Cuckoo, the health and safety of our customers is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring our customers enjoy our high quality products with peace of mind.
The second allegation made in the article relates to how our water purifiers were advertised on home shopping channels in Korea. In reference to the statement “…
The purifier is also promoted on the claim that its filtered water is effective in skincare and curing damaged skin”, this exaggerated expressions used during broadcasting prompted the Korea Communications Commission to take disciplinary action against the Home Shopping channel, not against Cuckoo.
In compliance with regulations, we had submitted all relevant evidence to the Korea Communications Standard Commission prior to the broadcast and only proceeded with the broadcast upon approval.
All claims made by Cuckoo about our products are verifiable and in compliance with regulations. With regards to the filter function of Cuckoo water purifiers, minerals such as calcium, magnesium etc. are identified by independent lab tests.
Our air purifiers are manufactured in compliance with the Ministry of Environment.
True to our promise of going ‘beyond standards’ in all that we do and in pursuit of our mission to push the boundaries and improve the quality of life of our customers, we are always striving to supply safer and better products and are committed to providing the most accurate information to our customers who have the right to know.
20 July, 2016 BON HAK KOO CEO of Cuckoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
Contents
Kenyataan Rasmi dari Cuckoo Korea
Kepada Semua Pelanggan Cuckoo Malaysia, Merujuk kepada dakwaan negatif daripada artikel yang dinyatakan oleh sebuah syarikat penerbitan Korea, kami ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk menangani dakwaan tersebut sebagai salah satu usaha kami bagi mengelakkan berlakunya sebarang kekeliruan dikalangan pengguna produk kami.
Artikel itu melaporkan dua isu yang berlainan iaitu, penapis udara yang mengandungi bahan anti-bakteria OIT dan pengiklanan produk secara keterlaluan.
Mengenai penapis udara yang mengandungi bahan anti-bakteria OIT, Kementerian Alam Sekitar Korea menjalani satu penilaian terhadap risiko kehadiran OIT dalam penapis udara dan mendapati bahawa OIT ini berkemungkinan boleh memudaratkan kesihatan. Demi kepentingan kesihatan awam, semua syarikat pengeluar penapis udara yang mengandungi bahan OIT ini diarahkan untuk menarik semula produk-produk tersebut.
Keputusan ini telah memberi kesan kepada majoriti pengeluar penapis udara
Keputusan makmal menunjukkan bahawa kebarangkalian untuk berlakunya kemudaratan terhadap kesihatan manusia adalah rendah.
Namun begitu, dalam usaha untuk mengurangkan potensi berlakunya kebimbangan dan kekeliruan di antara pelanggan kami di Malaysia, Cuckoo mengambil keputusan untuk menggantikan semua penapis kepada penapis bebas OIT secara percuma, dengan kadar segera. Di Cuckoo, kesihatan dan keselamatan pelanggan kami adalah keutamaan kami dan kami sentiasa komited untuk memastikan pelanggan kami menikmati produk yang berkualiti tinggi tanpa sebarang keraguan.
Dakwaan kedua yang dinyatakan dalam artikel tersebut berkaitan dengan promosi produk Cuckoo secara melampau di saluran home shopping di Korea.
Merujuk kepada kenyataan “Penapis ini juga dipromosikan ke atas dakwaan bahawa air yang ditapis adalah berkesan bagi rawatan dan menyembuhkan kerosakan kulit”, kenyataan yang diperbesarkan itu digunakan semasa penyiaran dan menyebabkan Suruhanjaya Komunikasi Korea untuk mengambil tindakan tatatertib terhadap saluran home shopping dan bukan terhadap Cuckoo.
Pihak Cuckoo telah mengikut semua terma dan syarat penyiaran yang ditetapkan dengan mengemukakan semua bukti dan dokumen yang berkaitan kepada Suruhanjaya Komunikasi Piawaian Korea sebelum penyiaran. Siaran hanya akan dilakukan selepas permohonan diluluskan oleh pihak mereka.
Semua pengistiharan yang dibuat oleh Cuckoo mengenai produk kami adalah sah dan mematuhi undang-undang. Berkaitan penapis air Cuckoo, mineral yang terkandung seperti kalsium, magnesium dan lain-lain telah dikenal pasti melalui ujian makmal. Penapis udara kami dihasilkan mengikut piawaian yang ditetapkan oleh Kementerian Alam Sekitar.
Selaras dengan moto and visi kami, ‘Beyond Standards’, Cuckoo sentiasa berusaha untuk melangkaui batasan dalam meningkatkan kualiti hidup pelanggan kami. Cuckoo berjanji untuk membekalkan produk yang lebih selamat dan baik serta bersedia untuk menyalurkan maklumat yang tepat kepada pelanggan kami yang berhak untuk mengetahuinya.
20 July, 2016 BON HAK KOO Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Cuckoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
韩国Cuckoo官方声明
亲爱的大马Cuckoo顾客，
对于最近韩国某刊物针对Cuckoo所作出的负面指控，我们希望可以特此澄清，以解除消费者对Cuckoo产品的疑惑。 该文章涵括了两项指控: 一、空气净化器含有OIT抗菌成 分，二、过度夸大水机产品功效。
关于空气净化器內滤网的OIT成分，韩国环境部已进行风险评估，并认为此抗菌成分对人体健康有潜在的风险。因此，为顾及公众健康着想，韩国环境部已经要求生产商召回所有含OIT成分的空气净化器滤网。目前市场上大部分的空气净化器生产商均受这项决定影响。
根据韩国环境部的测试，这OIT成分对人体健康造成伤害的可能性非常低。为了消除大马消费者的疑虑，我们决定即时为所有空气净化器顾客提供免费更换无OIT滤网服务。顾客的健康及安全永远都是Cuckoo的首要考量，从而顾客可以安心无忧地使用我们的产品。
至于第二项指控，源于韩国某家庭购物频道对Cuckoo水机的宣传技俩。该文章中引述这项夸大的宣传信息為“……此水机声称备有护肤功效及可治疗受损肌肤”，就此韩国放送通信委员会已对该家庭购物频道采取纪律行动，此证明这指控与Cuckoo无关。再者，为符合广播标准，所有宣传文案都必须在播放前通过韩国放送通信委员会的审查，Cuckoo所呈交的产品资料亦已获得該委员会的批准。
所有Cuckoo的产品阐述都已获得到认证并符合条规。关于Cuckoo水机滤芯可以提供如钙及镁等矿物质的声明，亦已获得独立实验室的测试证明；而我们所推出的所有空气净化器都已经获得韩国环境局的批准。
Beyond Standards是我们矢志不渝的目标，也是我们对顾客和社会的承诺，竭力为顾客提供更优质的生活及更安全的产品。同时，我们也将致力为每一位顾客提供最准确的信息，因为每一位顾客都拥有知道真相的权利。 20/07/2016 BON HAK KOO 韩国Cuckoo首席执行官
ACTION PLAN
Step 1: Arrangements have been made to ship the OIT-free filters from Korea immediately.
Step 2: Estimated date of arrival for the OIT-free filters is August 2016. Upon the arrival of the new filters, Cuckoo Natural Doctresses will contact all Cuckoo Air Purifier customers to make an appointment for the filter change.
Step 3: The filter change programme is projected to finish within 2 months.
Langkah 1: Tindakan segera telah diambil untuk membawa masuk penapis bebas OIT dari Korea.
Langkah 2: Tarikh jangkaan ketibaan penapis bebas OIT tersebut adalah pada bulan Ogos 2016. Setibanya penapis tersebut, pihak Cuckoo Natural Doctress akan menghubungi semua pelanggan bagi temujanji penukaran penapis.
Langkah 3: Program penukaran penapis ini dijangka akan disempurnakan dalam tempoh 2 bulan.
第一阶段 : 所有的无OIT滤网已安排由韩国寄往大马。
第二阶段 ：估计将在2016年8月抵达，当滤网一抵达，Cuckoo Natural Doctresses将联络所有的Cuckoo空气净化器顾客以安排更换滤网。
第三阶段： 整个滤网更换工作将在2个月内完成。
CUCKOO OIT-FREE FILTER REPLACEMENT Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is OIT?
OIT, Octylisothiazolinone, is a chemical substance with antimicrobial and antifouling properties. It is widely used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae in cooling water systems, fuel storage tanks, pulp and paper mill water treatment systems, oil extraction systems and wood preservation. It is also found in personal care products such as shampoos and other hair care products, as well as certain paint formulations. In 2014, the Korean Ministry of Environment barred its use in air humidifiers as it may pose a health risk. In an announcement on 20th July 2016, the Ministry extended the ban to air purifier and air conditioning filters as a precaution. This decision by the Ministry is affecting the majority of air purifier manufacturers.
2. Is it safe to use the current Cuckoo Air Purifier?
Yes, it is safe to use the air purifier. The ban on air purifier filters contain OIT by the Korean Ministry of Environment is a precautionary measure to protect public health. The risk assessment conducted by the ministry found the possibility to be harmful to human health to be low as the trace amount of OIT detected in the air from air sampling during the tests does not reach an extent to require ongoing study on its potential to be inhaled into the body. However, in order to alleviate any potential concerns of our Malaysian customers, we will replace all filters by OIT-free filters, free of charge, with immediate effect.
3. How can I request for the filter replacement?
Our Cuckoo Natural Doctress will contact you in August 2016 as soon as the OIT-free filter stock shipment arrives from Korea.
4. If I want to buy an air purifier now, does your new air purifier filter contain OIT?
At Cuckoo, the health and safety of our customers is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring our customers enjoy our high quality products with peace of mind. We are putting all new air purifier installation on hold until we replaced our existing stock with OIT-free filters. We expect to resume new air purifier installation in August 2016.
5.Do I need to bring my air purifier to Cuckoo’s service centre for the filter change?
No, there is no need to do so. Once we receive the OIT-free filters from Korea, our Natural Doctress will make an appointment with you. She will replace the filter for you at your premises.
6. I’m using a different brand of Air Purifier, does it contain OIT?
According to a news report in Korea, the majority of the OIT filters were manufactured by 3M and were used in purification products made by many popular brands. We suggest you contact your Air Purifier supplier for clarification or refer to the news report for further details by clicking this link.
7. How long should I wait for the filter change?
We target to complete the OIT-free filter replacement within 2 months upon receiving the filters from Korea. The first batch of filters is expected to arrive Malaysia in August 2016.
8. What is the efficacy of the OIT-free filters in inhibiting the growth of mold and bacteria?
Our air purifiers do not depend on OIT filters to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is our proprietary Cuckoo Plasma Ioniser (CPI) technology that kills bacteria and virus in our air purifiers.
