The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public from purchasing and using the following adulterated cosmetic products which tested and found to contain, HYDROQUINONE, BETAMETHASONE VALERATE 17, CLOBETASOL PROPIONATE, MERCURY COMPOUNDS, CI 15585, and o-AMINOPHENOL 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 violative cosmetic product/s:
1. KT NIGHT CREAM
2. BEWILD PETITE STICK (CORAL BROWN)
3. LOVELY PLUS HERBAL HAIR COLOR (7.3 BROWN)
4. LOVELY PLUS HERBAL HAIR COLOR (7.4 GOLDEN
BROWN)
5. P.U. LIGHT AURA BRIGHT
6. NP SKIN IDEAL SKIN CARE TURMERIC NIGHT
REPAIR TREATMENT
7. NP SKIN IDEAL SKIN CARE CM-II ARBUTIN NIGHT
CREAM
8. ¬LIGHT WHITE CREAM
9. LIGHT WHITE BODY CREAM
10.MIRACLE PINK
The aforementioned cosmetic products have been tested by the Thailand, Food and Drug Administration, as part of their post-marketing surveillance activities and results of the laboratory analyses show that the aforementioned products are not compliant with the technical standards set forth by the ACD.
Hydroquinone, Betamethasone Valerate 17 and Clobetasol Propionate are not allowed to be part of cosmetic product as these are classified as drug products in the Philippines because of their multiple serious adverse effects, such as sensitivity to light, skin redness and permanent skin discoloration, when used indiscriminately.
The ingredients CI 15585 and o-Aminophenol are included in the list of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products as per Annex II of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive.
Mercury, a naturally occurring heavy metal which is known to be severely hazardous to health even in small amount. According to 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 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 violative cosmetic product. Always check if a product is notified with the FDA by using the FDA Verification Portal feature accessible at https://verification.fda.gov.ph which may be used by typing in the name of the product before the purchase and/or using the cosmetic products.
All concerned establishments are warned not to distribute violative 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 their jurisdiction.
To report any sale, distribution, complaint and/or adverse event on the use of the violative cosmetic product, the online reporting facility, eReport can be accessed at [email protected], or call us at the Center for Cosmetics and Household/Urban Hazardous Substances Regulation and Research (CCHUHSRR) hotline (02) 8857-1900 loc. 8107.
Dissemination of this advisory to all concerned is hereby requested.
