EcoWaste Coalition Thumbs Up FDA’s Action vs. Indonesia-Made Skin Whitening Cream
7 September 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a pat on the back for its recent move to prohibit the distribution of Indonesia-made Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream, which is marketed “for clean bright looking skin” (or “untuk kulit tampak cerah bersih” as written on its packaging).
“We give the FDA the thumbs up for its latest effort to curb the distribution of this unauthorized skin whitening set from Indonesia,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “Based on our analysis, this product is adulterated with mercury in excess of the maximum one part per million (ppm) limit for mercury as a contaminant in cosmetics.”
The group purchased last July the said product from an online seller based in Indonesia. Using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, the group detected 341 ppm of mercury on the day cream and 221 ppm on the night cream. Mercury was also found on the other four Indonesia-made products the group ordered.
According to the packaging information in Bahasa Indonesia as translated by Google, Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream “helps disguise black spots, prevents acne, disguises fine lines, slows down signs of premature aging, shrinks pores, helps whiten and brighten facial skin.”
Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream is among the 181 cosmetics banned by BPOM, Indonesia’s Food and Drug Control Agency, for containing mercury and other prohibited substances based on the market surveillance it conducted from September 2022 to October 2023 all over the country.
“We urge consumers to pay attention and follow the advice of the FDA against the purchase and use of this product to avoid being exposed to banned substances in cosmetics, mercury in particular, which can harm their health and that of their loved ones, especially the children," Lucero said, noting "mercury can contaminate the indoor air, as well as household items such as clothings, pillows and towels that come into contact with the contaminated cream."
Last August 21, the FDA released Advisory No. 2024-1179 warning consumers against the purchase and use of Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream. “The abovementioned unauthorized cosmetic product has not gone through the notification process of the FDA, the agency cannot assure their quality and safety,” adding “the use of such a violative product may pose health risks to consumers.”
“Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals. The use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result in adverse reactions including, but not limited to, skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock and organ failure,” the FDA stated.
To protect public health and the environment from Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream and other contaminated cosmetics from Indonesia, the EcoWaste Coalition wrote to the FDA last July 10, 2024 to suggest the following action steps: seek the support of BPOM to stop the export of mercury cosmetics to the Philippines, ask Shopee Philippines to take down product listings for BPOM-banned mercury cosmetics, and for FDA to issue a public health warning against the purchase and use of Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream and other BPOM-banned mercury cosmetics being offered for sale online as well as in physical stores.
Nexus3 Foundation, EcoWaste Coalition’s NGO partner in Indonesia, also wrote to concerned government offices to draw attention and action to address the illegal production and trade of mercury-added cosmetics.
As the ordered items had to clear export and import customs checks, the groups pressed the customs authorities of both Indonesia and the Philippines to tighten controls on the export and import of unauthorized cosmetics to ensure that violative products are blocked from being exported or imported.
“As guardians of our ports, we call upon the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Indonesia and the Bureau of Customs of the Philippines to work closely with BPOM and the FDA to bring the prohibited exportation and importation of mercury-added cosmetics to a full stop,” the EcoWaste Coalition and Nexus3 Foundation said in a statement.
“By acting bilaterally and
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