Banned cosmetics still sold in 27 localities in Central Luzon

HARMFUL Mercury-laden cosmetics, mostly skin-lightening products, are openly being sold in various stores in Central Luzon during an inspection held from Sept. 14 to Sept. 23, despite being prohibited by the country’s health authorities, according to the advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition. —Contributed photo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Cosmetics with dangerous levels of mercury, a highly toxic chemical, are sold in 37 stores in 11 cities and 16 towns in Central Luzon, the EcoWaste Coalition said in a report to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

The consumer protection group confirmed this after doing a rapid market survey in the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac from Sept. 14 to Sept. 23.

It said the mercury-laden cosmetics were found to be sold in 11 cities: Baliwag, Malolos and San Jose del Monte cities in Bulacan; Cabanatuan and Gapan cities in Nueva Ecija; Angeles, Mabalacat and San Fernando cities in Pampanga; Tarlac City in Tarlac; Balanga City in Bataan; and Olongapo City in Zambales.

READ: Ecowaste Coalition finds high level of toxic chemical in some pet toys

“Our investigation shows that skin-lightening products that have long been prohibited by the country’s health authorities are openly sold with impunity not only in big cities but also in the smaller municipalities we recently visited,” Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator, said in a statement.

“Consumers aspiring for a fairer and flawless complexion need not travel to big cities, as so-called beauty creams, including those with hidden mercury additives, can be easily purchased from dealers in the poblacion, the town’s commercial and political center,” she added.

It found these products on store shelves: Pakistan-made Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene and Goree Day & Night Whitening Cream that were banned in 2017 (FDA Advisory No. 2017-289), Goree 24K Gold Beauty Cream was banned in 2023 (FDA Advisory No. 2023-2392) and Thailand-made 88 Total White Underarm Cream was banned in 2021 (FDA Advisory No. 2021-1187).

It said a store also offered China-made Jiaoli Miraculous Cream banned since 2010 (FDA Advisory No. 2010-002) and S’Zitang 10-Day Whitening & Spot Day & Night Set banned in 2015 (FDA Advisory No. 2015-025).

Hazardous

According to the group, the stores are located in 16 first- to fourth-class municipalities, including Balagtas, Bocaue, Calumpit, Marilao, Plaridel, and Pulilan in the province of Bulacan; and Cabiao, Guimba, San Isidro, Santa Rosa, and Talugtug in Nueva Ecija.

These banned cosmetics were also found in several stores in the towns of Apalit, Arayat, San Simon, and Santa Ana in Pampanga; and Victoria in Tarlac.

The FDA, through Ana Trinidad Rivera, head of the Center for Cosmetics and Household Urban Hazardous Substances Regulation and Research, received the findings.

The FDA earlier cited the World Health Organization advisory that “mercury-containing skin-lightening products are hazardous to health.”

The FDA also warned of side effects of using these mercury-laden cosmetics, like skin discoloration, rashes and scarring, and lower skin resistance to bacterial and fungal infections.

It said that the repeated applications could also harm the kidneys, the brain, and the central nervous system, noting that mercury can cross the placental barrier during pregnancy and get passed to nursing babies through the breast milk, affecting the child’s developing brain and nervous system and causing neurodevelopmental damage.