The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public from purchasing and using the following unauthorized and adulterated cosmetic products, which tested positive for the presence of MERCURY, as reported in the ASEAN Post-Marketing Alert System (PMAS). These ingredients are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product as per ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD). The table below indicates the particulars of the unauthorized and adulterated cosmetic products:
1. GIZI COSMETICS SUPER CREAM SECRET OF SEAWEED
2. DEEJA SET 5 DALAM 1 KEHEBATAN LUNAR BIASA SUF CREAM
3. BIHAN GIRLY MAKEUP BSKIN CARE 3x BRIGHTENING EFFECT – TREATMENT CREAM
4. DEEJA COSMETIC SET 5 IN 1 – LAIKA CREAM
5. HERBAL PLUS NEW DAY & NIGHT DAY
The aforementioned products have been tested by the Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Brunei Darussalam, as part of their post-marketing surveillance activities and results of the laboratory analyses show that these products are not compliant with the technical standards set forth by the ACD.
The aforementioned products were verified to contain Mercury, a naturally occuring heavy metal which is known to be severely hazardous to health even in small amount. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the main adverse effect of exposure to inorganic mercury (e.g. ammoniated mercury) is kidney damage. Mercury may also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, as well as a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections. Exposed pregnant women and nursing mothers transfer the mercury to their fetuses, which can later result in neurodevelopmental deficits in the children.
In light of the foregoing, the public is advised not to purchase the aforementioned unauthorized and adulterated products. Moreover, the public is advised to always check if a cosmetic product is notified with the FDA. The FDA website (www.fda.gov.ph) has a Search feature which may be used by typing in the name of the product before purchasing.
All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute unauthorized and adulterated cosmetic products.
All FDA Regional Field Offices and Regulatory Enforcement Units, in coordination with law enforcement agencies and Local Government Units, are requested to ensure that violative products are not sold or made available in the market or areas of jurisdiction.
Kindly contact the FDA Center for Cosmetics Regulation and Research through e-mail at [email protected], or call (02) 8857-1900 loc. 8113 or 8107.
To report any sale or distribution of the afore-mentioned cosmetic product, the online reporting facility, eReport can be accessed at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport.
Dissemination of this advisory to all concerned is hereby requested.
Attachment:-> FDA-Advisory-No.2020-2082