Makati LGU Urged to Crack Down on Illegal Trade of Dangerous Cosmetics and Slimming Products in Guadalupe
A watchdog group espousing the
public health and the environment today urged Makati Acting Mayor Romulo “Kid”
Peña to come down hard on vendors of banned cosmetics and weight-loss products
in Guadalupe.
The EcoWaste Coalition brought the illegal trade to Peña’s attention through a
letter faxed and e-mailed to his office and to the Makati Health Department along
with the photo evidence.
Based on the market surveillance conducted by the group yesterday, seven beauty
and herbal vendors renting store space at the Guadalupe Commercial Complex and
U-Mec Supermarket were found to be selling skin whitening creams and slimming
goods banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“To curb this illegal trade of dangerous consumer products that had no FDA
notification, we request the Makati LGU to seize the unregistered items, issue formal warning
against non-compliant vendors and/or shut retail outlets engaged in such illicit
business,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project
Protect.
“The LGU’s immediate action will protect consumers from Makati, Pateros, Taguig
and other LGUs who pass by Guadalupe to catch their ride or to shop from being
duped by unscrupulous traders,” he said.
Among the FDA-prohibited cosmetics that can be purchased in Guadalupe are Erna,
Jiaoli and S’zitang skin whitening creams that had been banned due to their
high mercury content.
Mercury-laced cosmetics can expose users and even non-users to this toxic metal
that can cause damage to the skin, kidneys and the nervous systems and hinder
healthy brain development of unborn and very young children.
Among the anti-obesity or weight-loss products being sold in the area are Brazilian
Slimming Coffee, Leisure 18 Slimming
Coffee and Leisure Burn Body Fat Orange Juice, which the FDA had banned for
containing unauthorized ingredients such as amphetamine, sibutramine and
steroids.
The intake of sibutramine, in particular, has been associated with increased risk
of serious heart events such as heart attack and stroke.
Vendors were also found selling other unregistered slimming products that are
banned in Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore such as Curvy Pearl Beauty Slimming
Orange Juice, Brazilian 7 Days Slimming Coffee, Body Beauty 5 Days Slimming
Coffee, Leisure 18 Slimming Mango Juice, and Leisure 18 Slimming Orange Juice.
Makati and other LGUs, the EcoWaste Coalition stressed, has a strategic role in
ensuring that health directives from the FDA and other national government
agencies are enforced to promote and protect the public health and safety.
“With the collaboration of the LGUs, it’s possible to cut back on this unlawful
trade and consumption of contraband goods that can cause adverse effects to
human health and the environment,” the group said.
-end-
Reference:
Banned Skin Whitening Creams:
Banned Slimming Products:
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