The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns the public from purchasing and using the following adulterated cosmetic products which tested and found to contain MERCURY, STEROID and RHODAMINE B 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:
LALCUME EXCELLENT DAY CREAM FADE-OUT
CREAM
2. LALCUME EXCELLENT NIGHT CREAM WHITENING
CREAM
3. AIFUBAO WHITENING RED GINSENG WHITENING
ANTI FRECKLE TRIAL PACK (DAY CREAM)
4. AIFUBAO WHITENING RED GINSENG WHITENING
ANTI FRECKLE TRIAL PACK (NIGHT CREAM)
5. CAIYILIN (BIRDS NEST) HERB WHITENING NIGHT
CREAM
6. HUNCHIBEAUTY LIPSTICK & LIPGLOSS (2in1 No.17)
7. ALESSIA WHITENING NIGHT CREAM
The aforementioned cosmetic products have been tested by the Department of Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health Myanmar, 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.
Steroid is 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.
Rhodamine B is a fluorescent dye used as a tracer in water and air flow studies and in molecular and cell biology studies. It represents as a red to violet powder and has been shown to be carcinogenic in mammalian models.
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 email us at [email protected].
Dissemination of this advisory to all concerned is hereby requested.