Eleven skin lightening which were banned in the United States for containing mercury are being sold to Filipino consumers, the environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has warned the public.
 
The group said the products pose a serious health risk to their mostly female users as well as other household members, particularly children.

In a statement issued on Sunday, March 19, the group said that it purchased 11 skin lightening products made in China, Pakistan, and Thailand that were found to contain mercury by health officials in California, Minnesota, and New York.

“We obtained the items from cosmetic stores and from online sellers during our market monitoring.  Based on the chemical screening we conducted, the items are contaminated with high levels of mercury ranging from 2,230 to 58,400 parts per million (ppm), way above the global limit of one ppm,” EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Aileen Lucero disclosed.

She said  10 of the said products were produced in 2021 or 2022 or after the global phase-out in 2020 of mercury-added cosmetics such as skin lightening products, saying such is “in clear defiance of the requirements of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, as well as the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).”

According to EcoWaste, the ACD includes mercury and its compounds among the “substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products,” a decision adopted by the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee in 2007, while the Minamata Convention sets 2020 as the “date after which the manufacture, import or export of the product shall not be allowed.”

“Six of these products are already covered by separate health advisories issued by the Philippine FDA warning consumers against buying and using them,” she added.

“Among these 11 mercury-laced products are five Pakistan-made cosmetics, namely, Chandni Whitening Cream, Faiza Beauty Cream, Golden Pearl Beauty Cream, Goree Beauty Cream, and Sandal Beauty Cream, which were identified by the New York City Health Department (NYCHD) as containing mercury.”

The environmental watchdog said the NYCHD published health warnings that read: “Do not use.  These beauty creams were found to contain mercury.  Mercury is a poison and can harm your health.  See your doctor if you use these products.”

“Also sold locally are four Thailand-made mercury-added products such as 88 Total White Underarm Cream, Meyyong Seaweed Super Whitening, Polla Gold Super White, and Snow White Armpit Whitening Underarm Cream, which were among those found to contain mercury by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH),” the group stated.

The EcoWaste also stated that they purchased two China-made Jiaoli Miraculous Cream and Jiaoli 7-Day Specific Eliminating Freckle AB Set, both of which were tested and found to contain mercury by the California Department of Health (CDH).

The group urged consumers to stop using skin lightening products that contain mercury and other hazardous substances, visit a doctor for a medical evaluation, and dispose of such products properly in order to prevent mercury exposure. Instead, they should embrace their natural skin color and avoid chemical whiteners.