Jiaoli Skin Whitening Cosmetics Banned in Norway, US, Hong Kong and the Philippines, On Sale in Metro Manila
Jiaoli products bought in Metro Manila with receipts issued by retailers (above); Jiaoli product withdrawn from the Norwegian market as published in RAPEX (below)
Beware: a mercury-laden
skin whitening product bearing the name of “Jiaoli” that Norway recently banned
is being offered for sale in Metro Manila despite being banned by the Philippines
as well.
The EcoWaste Coalition aired this warning after being able to buy the facial cream in question for P80 or P100 each last November 5 and 6 at beauty and health product shops and Chinese drug stores in Guadalupe, Makati City; Starmall, Mandaluyong City; Sta. Cruz, Manila City; Baclaran Terminal Plaza, Pasay City; and Cubao, Quezon City.
Jiaoli was one of the nine skin whitening products, mostly imported from China, that the Scandinavian country withdrew from the market for containing mercury in the range of 1,800 to 8,300 parts per million (ppm).
According to Report 43 published on November 1, 2013 by the European Union’s rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products or RAPEX, “the product poses a chemical risk because it contains mercury (5,000 ppm) and does not comply with the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products.”
The said Jiaoli product that Norway recalled, which is not on the list of notified cosmetics of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), is contained in a blue box with white Chinese letters and pictures of a woman before and after using the cream.
Several Jiaoli-named products, including the one recalled in Norway, were among the 93 skin whitening cosmetics banned by FDA from 2010-2013 for exceeding the 1 ppm limit for mercury under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
Internet search by the EcoWaste Coalition showed that the same Jiaoli was also banned by the Hong Kong Department of Health in 2009 and by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2011 for containing dangerous levels of mercury.
“We are alarmed that Jiaoli seems to be enjoying brisk sales despite being recalled by various health agencies for having mercury at levels considered illegal even in China where the product originated,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
As per the “Hygienic Standards for Cosmetics” of the National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, the tolerable limit for mercury in cosmetics is set at 1 ppm, which is similar to the limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
“Based on our nonstop market monitoring, Jiaoli as well as Erna, S’zitang and Yudantang skin whitening products are the most available mercury-laden cosmetics being illegally traded in Metro Manila and elsewhere,” she said.
“To keep Jiaoli and other mercury-contaminated products out of commerce, a concerted action involving health, trade, customs and police authorities and watchdog groups in the Philippines and in countries where these products are sourced is urgently needed,” Lucero pointed out.
The EcoWaste Coalition also expressed serious concern about the emergence of three new Jiaoli products in the market such as Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening AB Set, Jiaoli Huichunsu Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream, and Jiaoli Speckle Dispelling and Whitening Cream that had 10,800, 2,095 and 3,042 ppm of mercury, respectively, based on the chemical analysis conducted by the group. These three Jiaoli products are not yet banned by the FDA.
According to a flyer published by the World Health Organization (WHO), “the main adverse effect of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening soaps and creams is kidney damage.”
“Mercury in skin lightening products may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections (and further cause) anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy,” the WHO said.
WHO also warned “that mercury in cosmetics is eventually discharged into wastewater, then enters the environment, where it becomes methylated and enters the food-chain as the highly toxic methylmercury in fish.”
WHO warned that “pregnant women who consume fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their fetuses, which can later result in neurodevelopmental deficits in the children.”
-end-
The EcoWaste Coalition aired this warning after being able to buy the facial cream in question for P80 or P100 each last November 5 and 6 at beauty and health product shops and Chinese drug stores in Guadalupe, Makati City; Starmall, Mandaluyong City; Sta. Cruz, Manila City; Baclaran Terminal Plaza, Pasay City; and Cubao, Quezon City.
Jiaoli was one of the nine skin whitening products, mostly imported from China, that the Scandinavian country withdrew from the market for containing mercury in the range of 1,800 to 8,300 parts per million (ppm).
According to Report 43 published on November 1, 2013 by the European Union’s rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products or RAPEX, “the product poses a chemical risk because it contains mercury (5,000 ppm) and does not comply with the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products.”
The said Jiaoli product that Norway recalled, which is not on the list of notified cosmetics of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), is contained in a blue box with white Chinese letters and pictures of a woman before and after using the cream.
Several Jiaoli-named products, including the one recalled in Norway, were among the 93 skin whitening cosmetics banned by FDA from 2010-2013 for exceeding the 1 ppm limit for mercury under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
Internet search by the EcoWaste Coalition showed that the same Jiaoli was also banned by the Hong Kong Department of Health in 2009 and by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2011 for containing dangerous levels of mercury.
“We are alarmed that Jiaoli seems to be enjoying brisk sales despite being recalled by various health agencies for having mercury at levels considered illegal even in China where the product originated,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
As per the “Hygienic Standards for Cosmetics” of the National Standard of the People’s Republic of China, the tolerable limit for mercury in cosmetics is set at 1 ppm, which is similar to the limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
“Based on our nonstop market monitoring, Jiaoli as well as Erna, S’zitang and Yudantang skin whitening products are the most available mercury-laden cosmetics being illegally traded in Metro Manila and elsewhere,” she said.
“To keep Jiaoli and other mercury-contaminated products out of commerce, a concerted action involving health, trade, customs and police authorities and watchdog groups in the Philippines and in countries where these products are sourced is urgently needed,” Lucero pointed out.
The EcoWaste Coalition also expressed serious concern about the emergence of three new Jiaoli products in the market such as Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening AB Set, Jiaoli Huichunsu Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream, and Jiaoli Speckle Dispelling and Whitening Cream that had 10,800, 2,095 and 3,042 ppm of mercury, respectively, based on the chemical analysis conducted by the group. These three Jiaoli products are not yet banned by the FDA.
According to a flyer published by the World Health Organization (WHO), “the main adverse effect of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening soaps and creams is kidney damage.”
“Mercury in skin lightening products may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections (and further cause) anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy,” the WHO said.
WHO also warned “that mercury in cosmetics is eventually discharged into wastewater, then enters the environment, where it becomes methylated and enters the food-chain as the highly toxic methylmercury in fish.”
WHO warned that “pregnant women who consume fish containing methylmercury transfer the mercury to their fetuses, which can later result in neurodevelopmental deficits in the children.”
-end-
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