A recent investigation by the Consumer Council has revealed significant variations in the absorption speeds of disposable sanitary pads available in the local market, with more than half of the tested products lacking adequate labeling. The council released its findings on 36 winged sanitary towel models, which were purchased from personal care stores, supermarkets, and online platforms. Prices for the pads ranged from HK$1 to HK$5.60 per piece.

Testing adhered to the national standard for sanitary absorbent pads, focusing on parameters such as length, weight, absorption speed, adhesive peel strength, moisture content, chemical balance, and the presence of hidden preservatives. Synthetic menstrual fluid was applied in controlled amounts to evaluate absorption times across different pad lengths.

The results showed wide discrepancies in absorption efficiency. Among the pads measuring 22cm to 25cm, absorption times ranged considerably, with the fastest pad absorbing fluid in as little as seven seconds and the slowest taking up to 73 seconds—well beyond the national standard limit of 60 seconds. A Kotex day-use pad ranked among the fastest, fully absorbing fluid in seven seconds, while a Whisper product absorbed it in 11 seconds. Laurier pads in this group absorbed fluid more slowly, with times between 36 and 45 seconds. Two brands, WomenX Pad-Pro Sanitary Pad and LaDimï Far Infrared Graphene Antibacterial Day Use Sanitary Napkin, recorded absorption times of 57 and 73 seconds respectively, with the latter failing to meet national standards.

In terms of product labeling, 19 samples did not provide key information such as main ingredients or surface materials in either Chinese or English. Some also omitted shelf life or supplier details, raising concerns about insufficient consumer information. Moisture content levels were generally low, with 31 brands measuring under 10 percent, which the Consumer Council said reflected sound production, packaging, and logistics management. However, five pads had moisture levels between 10.7 and 12.8 percent. The council noted it was unclear whether these values exceeded acceptable limits at the point of manufacture and recommended enhanced production and packaging controls to reduce moisture and the risk of microbial growth.

All tested pads demonstrated balanced acidity levels and met chemical safety criteria, indicating a low likelihood of causing skin irritation. Responding to the findings, the sole distributor of LaDim napkins provided a factory inspection report to the watchdog, asserting that their product complied with national standards for absorption speed and other requirements. The distributor also confirmed that the tested samples came from the same production batch examined by the Consumer Council.

The Consumer Council urged consumers to verify expiry dates and packaging integrity before purchase and to store sanitary pads in clean, cool, and dry conditions to preserve quality and safety. It also called on manufacturers to strengthen quality management, conduct routine testing, and improve product labeling to ensure consumers can make informed decisions and minimize health risks.