Examples of Food and Drug Administration-banned cosmetic products from China, Pakistan, and Thailand that are being sold in Baguio City, according to EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio. (Photo courtesy of EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio)
MANILA, Philippines — Environmental groups have urged the local government of Baguio to enact an ordinance that would ban mercury-laced cosmetic products in the city.
The EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio stressed that the local government should put an end “to this trade of hazardous cosmetics” through the ordinance to protect Baguio City and its people from the harmful effects of the chemical.
They also lauded Baguio City and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cordillera Regional Field Office for responding to their call to inspect and seize beauty products containing the toxic substance.
The groups wrote Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on December 11, 2023, resulting in store inspections and monitoring on December 15. A law enforcement operation followed on February 27 this year.
“We laud the City Government of Baguio and FDA Cordillera for acting on our complaint, which we filed with the sole intent of protecting human health, the health of women and children in particular, from being harmed by mercury in contraband cosmetics preying on women desiring a lighter skin tone,” Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a statement Saturday.
READ: EcoWaste to Manila malls: Stop selling mercury-containing cosmetics
But for Beki Tenefrancia, president of Zero Waste Baguio, the sale and consumption of mercury-containing beauty products must be stopped.
“To put an end to this trade of hazardous cosmetics, we appeal to the City Council to include in their legislative agenda the enactment of an ordinance that will prohibit the trade in cosmetics laden with mercury and hold those engage in such unethical business liable,” Tenefrancia said.
READ: 10 Quezon City stores called out for selling cosmetics with mercury
According to the groups, eight out of the 10 stores they reported to the Baguio City government and regional FDA were found selling government-banned cosmetics.
Among the products confiscated were “382 pieces of three variants of Goree Beauty Cream (Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream and Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream), 75 pieces of two variants of Jiaoli (Jiaoli Miraculous Cream and Jiaoli 7 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set), and 44 pieces of 88 Total White Underarm Cream.”
Seven boxes of Diane-35, an unregistered drug for treating severe acne, were also seized during the operations.
The groups said the confiscated products have a market value of P138,440, based on the FDA’s post-activity assessment.
EcoWaste and Zero Waste Baguio likewise said that personnel of the regional FDA briefed the people manning the inspected stores about the side effects of consuming unregistered cosmetics, especially those containing mercury. The FDA said unregistered beauty products were not tested properly by regulators and may damage the skin, kidneys, and brain.
“The EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio urge national and local authorities, as well as the citizenry, to remain vigilant to shatter the persistent trade of banned skin lightening products with mercury to protect human health and the environment against toxic contamination,” the groups said.
Caption: The EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio calls the appeals to the Baguio City local government unit to enact an ordinance banning cosmetic products containing mercury in the City of Pines. (Photo courtesy of EcoWaste Coalition and Zero Waste Baguio)