MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned the public against purchasing and using a cologne spray being sold online by the company of actress Toni Gonzaga and vlogger Winnie Wong because the product has not secured proper license.
According to FDA, POUF! Everyday Cologne Spray has no valid Certificate of Product Notification, warning that it may cause potential hazards.
“Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals,” FDA said in its Advisory No. 2020-2188.
“The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result [in] adverse reactions including, but not limited to, skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock, and organ failure,” it added.
FDA said its regional field offices and regulatory enforcement units ensure that violative products are not sold or made available in the market.
POUF! is a product line owned and marketed by TGWW Everyday Lifestyle Studio, a firm whose name comes from the initials of its owners Gonzaga and Wong.
The said firm, whose office is based in Makati City, was registered as a company that is supposed to sell only bags, notebooks, and toiletries, FDA said.
The product and the company are included in the list of brands being complained about by consumer group Action for Consumerism and Transparency in Nation Building (Action), which said that cosmetic products are being peddled online without bothering to get licenses from FDA.
FDA said it checked an online shopping site and found that POUF! is still being sold on its platform.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo earlier said those who sell cosmetic products without government license and registration could be criminally charged for violation of Republic Act 8711, or the FDA Act of 2009.
According to Section 12 of the said law, violators of this act could suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from one year but not more than ten years or a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P500,000.
Wong refused to comment on the matter, saying their legal counsel has advised them that issues are already being addressed in the proper forum.
“As much as I want to provide the full details on this matter, our legal counsel has advised us that the issues are already being addressed in the proper forum,” Wong told INQUIRER.net in an e-mail.
“There are many sensationalized and fabricated information coming out against us. We do not want to engage in false information,” she added.