Baby care giant Johnson & Johnson has had to deal with a host of legal problems in China after traces of potentially hazardous chemicals were found in its baby products earlier this year. Run Ming has been Johnson & Johnson’s long-term legal advisor, providing years of advice to the company on its business operations. Most recently, the firm represented the company in its first Chinese litigation case regarding consumers’ right to know in which the they received a favourable judgement.

The case was filed by Chinese consumer and mother Shi Xia, alleging inaccurate labelling of product ingredients. An investigation saw product testing completed by the state’s department of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. While traces of 1,4-dioxane were found, Johnson & Johnson has affirmed that its products are safe and claims that the dioxane derives purely from the manufacturing process, and the amount found is far below unsafe levels.

 

Run Ming represented the company in its defence against Shi’s claim, with executive partner Wang Yadong and senior associate Gao Song leading the legal team. Shi is advised by Beijing Xinping Law Firm’s Zhang Tao. 

 

At around the same time, approximately 700 parents also filed a complaint against Johnson & Johnson’s products, claiming that their children developed allergy symptoms after using the company’s shampoo. The class action, led by Cui Baoyu from Beijing-based B&R, involved nearly 80 lawyers.  


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