QC Task Force vs Banned Mercury Cosmetics Formed to Protect Human Health and the Environment

These contraband cosmetics containing high levels of toxic mercury are offered for sale in Quezon City despite the ordinance prohibiting and penalizing such act.

16 March 2025, Quezon City. A few weeks after it was created, the newly-constituted task force for the implementation of the Quezon City-wide ban on mercury-containing cosmetics met for the first time last March 14. The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) led by officer-in-charge Dr. Ramona Abarquez, concurrent Chairperson of the task force, convened the introductory meeting of the group.

Dr. Laarni Malapit, Head of QCHD Special Services Division and Vice Chairperson of the task force welcomed the participants representing various city government departments and offices, as well as the EcoWaste Coalition, a toxics watchdog group.

Pharmacist Jeanette Dacanay, Chief of Food-Drug Regulation Section and Secretariat of the task force then reviewed the powers and functions of the task force and the specific roles of member departments and offices.

During the meeting, the EcoWaste Coalition acknowledged and thanked the QCHD, particularly the seven food-drug regulation officers, for their focused efforts to get the task force formed as this will surely promote collaboration and synergy among the departments and offices to prevent contraband cosmetics with mercury from being traded in Quezon City.

Created through Executive Order No. 2025-2 signed by Mayor Joy Belmonte last February 12, the task force has been assigned to enforce and ensure the effective implementation of City Ordinance No. 2767 banning the manufacture, distribution and sale of mercury-containing skin whitening cosmetics.

The group is also tasked to identify and apprehend the importers, distributors, and retailers of prohibited mercury-containing cosmetics within the city’s jurisdiction; address related reports, notices and complaints; conduct information drive about the hazards of such cosmetics; monitor and coordinate with other stakeholders towards the effective implementation of the said ordinance.

A store at Nova Plaza Mall sells these mercury-added cosmetics in violation .of Quezon City Ordinance No. 2767 banning such dangerous products

Enacted in 2018 in response to the illicit trade in Quezon City of cosmetics with mercury content as documented and exposed by the EcoWaste Coalition, City Ordinance No. 2767 seeks to ensure compliance to the ban on mercury-containing cosmetics to protect human health and the environment against mercury, which is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern.

To recall, the said ordinance has three key objectives: to halt the illegal manufacture, importation, marketing and promotion, distribution and sale of cosmetic products not compliant with the state and ASEAN policy on mercury cosmetics; to promote citizen awareness about the health and environmental hazards of consuming mercury-containing cosmetics; and to ensure the environmentally sound management of banned, recalled and/or confiscated mercury-containing cosmetics.

Comprising the task force for the implementation of City Ordinance No. 2767 are the representatives from the City Legal Department, Business Permit and Licensing Department, Department of Public Order and Safety, Market Development and Administration Department, Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works, Barangay Community and Relations Department, Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, Public Affairs and Information Services Department, City Planning and Development Department, QCHD Environmental Sanitation Division, Quezon City Police District, City Treasurer’s Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Food and Drug Administration, and the private sector.

Prior to the meeting, the EcoWaste Coalition on March 13 managed to buy 13 mercury-containing cosmetics from 11 beauty product kiosks and stores located in Cubao, Muñoz and Novaliches, highlighting the crucial job of the task force to stop the illegal trade.

Despite being banned by the FDA for lacking market authorization and/or for containing mercury above the trace amount limit of one part per million (ppm), Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream, and 88 Total White Underarm Cream can be obtained from Quezon City retailers for P220 to P300 each.

Made in Thailand, this FDA-banned mercury-containing cosmetic claims to whiten the underarm and reduce body odor.

Based on the chemical screening conducted by the group with the aid of a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the four samples of 88 Total White Underarm Cream were found contaminated with mercury ranging from 2,010 to 2,231 ppm, while the nine Goree Beauty Cream products contained 25,480 to 29,540 ppm of mercury.

The EcoWaste Coalition will continue to perform its watchdog role, monitor the market for errant vendors, and provide the QCHD with essential information to assist the task force in the performance of its responsibilities, the group earnestly signified.