FDA Applauded as More Toxic Cosmetics are Flagged
8 January 2025, Quezon City. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drew cheers from the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition for issuing advisories duly warning consumers against the purchase and use of more unauthorized skin lightening products that pose serious health risks.
In successive advisories published at www.fda.gov.ph during the first week of 2025, the agency identified five imported skin lightening products that are being sold online sans the required certificates of product notification in violation of Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act, which prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of any health product without proper authorization from the FDA.
Among the latest batch of unauthorized cosmetics flagged were those reported by the EcoWaste Coalition to the FDA for containing mercury above the trace amount limit of one part per million (ppm) under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. Mercury, a highly toxic chemical, is not permitted as an ingredient in cosmetic product formulations.
"We laud the FDA for its unwavering action to warn consumers about products that can pose significant risks to their health and safety such as unauthorized cosmetics, which may contain banned substances like mercury," said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. "As a public interest group, we will continue with our advocacy efforts to assist the FDA in its crucial role as the country's lead regulator for health and household hazardous products."
Through Advisory Nos. 2024-1716, 2024-1717 and 2014-1718, the FDA banned Q-nic Care Whitening Night Cream, Q-nic Care Whitening Underarm Cream, and Malaysia Erna Whitening Cream, which the EcoWaste Coalition reported to the agency last December 2024.
As per X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening undertaken by the group, Q-nic Care Whitening Night Cream is contaminated with 4,113 ppm of mercury, while Q-nic Care Whitening Underarm Cream has 6,109 ppm. Malaysia Erna Whitening Cream was found negative for mercury.
The FDA also banned Meyyong Ra Seaweed Super Whitening Set and Lady Gold Super Gluta Brightening through Advisory Nos. 2024-1720 and 2024-1761, respectively.
These two products were among the 12 reported by the group to the FDA last September 26, 2024, which alerted the agency about the upsurge in online product listings of mercury-laced skin lightening products from Thailand. Based on previous screenings, Meyyong Ra and Lady Gold contained 3,784 ppm and 44,450 ppm of mercury, respectively.
The said advisories also warned concerned establishments not to distribute the above violative products.
FDA’s regional field offices and regulatory enforcement units, in coordination with local government units and law enforcement agencies, were likewise requested to ensure that violative products are not sold or made available in the market or areas of their jurisdiction.
The EcoWaste Coalition will again notify the FDA about the 14 unauthorized skin lightening products that it recently obtained from retailers, including online sellers, of which nine are deemed adulterated with mercury.
The EcoWaste Coalition's continuing vigilance against hazardous chemicals lurking in some products is part and parcel of the group's advocacy towards a zero waste and toxics-free society, especially this January, which is celebrated as Zero Waste Month as per Presidential Proclamation 760 issued in 2014.
References:
https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-
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