INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A toxics watchdog group on Thursday warned Filipinos anew to refrain from using mercury-tainted cosmetic products made in Pakistan.
According to EcoWaste Coalition, the Pakistan-made Goree Beauty Creams pose a health risk to consumers as tests reveal the cosmetic products have a high concentration of mercury, reaching above 20,000 parts per million (ppm).
The chemical screening tests, conducted by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that the products’ mercury content is above the maximum limit of one ppm.
Continuous exposure to high levels of mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys, the group said, citing studies from Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection.
Because of this, the FDA has successively issued public health warnings against the sale and use of unauthorized Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, and Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream.
However, despite the FDA advisories, retailers and online sellers in dozens of cities and municipalities continue to sell the products, EcoWaste Coalition noted.
“The illegal sale of these imported skin-lightening creams persists despite regulatory actions by a number of countries, including the Philippines,” EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero said in a statement.
“It goes without saying that a coordinated global response is urgently required to break the unlawful production and trade of these dangerous cosmetics with mercury – for good,” Lucero continued.
READ: EcoWaste Coalition warns consumers of cosmetics with high levels of mercury
The toxics watchdog pointed out that other countries have also taken action against the mercury-laden Goree Beauty Creams including the United States, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and other states in Europe and Southeast Asia.
READ: Avoid perfumes with ‘reprotoxic’ chemicals, warns EcoWaste Coalition
“In the meantime, the EcoWaste Coalition called on all local government units to conduct random store inspections, in coordination with FDA’s field offices, to ensure that Goree Beauty Creams and other banned mercury-containing cosmetics are not offered for sale to their constituents,” the group’s statement added.
EcoWaste Coalition issued a similar warning in March and likewise urged the public to steer clear of the same beauty products.