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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Consumers warned of some QC stores selling toxic cosmetics with mercury

Consumers warned of some QC stores selling toxic cosmetics with mercury

Published Jan 22, 2024 01:47 am
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(Photo courtesy of EcoWaste Coalition)

Toxics watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has issued a warning to consumers about some beauty product stores in Quezon City that are selling cosmetic products containing mercury, which poses harm to humans.


In a statement, the group said some stores in Quezon City still sell imported skin whitening creams adulterated with mercury despite the citywide ban enacted in 2018 through Ordinance No. 2767 ahead of the 2020 phase-out deadline for mercury-added cosmetics under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

From Jan. 19 to 20, EcoWaste visited retail hubs in Cubao, Novaliches, and Commonwealth to check on store compliance with the mercury cosmetic ban.

Aileen Lucero, the national coordinator of EcoWaste, bared that they discovered that at least 10 stores in Quezon City are still selling mercury-contaminated facial and underarm whitening creams from Pakistan and Thailand.

“This is despite the recent store inspections conducted by the QCHD in response to the complaints we lodged against the errant sellers,” she stated.

The toxics watchdog said it purchased samples of skin-lightening products banned by the FDA for chemical screening.    “Among the FDA-banned cosmetics obtained by the group and then screened for mercury were Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream (bought for P200 from MC Skin Care at Murphy Public Market) Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream (P250, Red Coco, Farmers Plaza), Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene (P170, David & Lyn, Commonwealth Market) and 88 Total White Underarm Cream (P280, Frelan Trading, Nova Plaza Mall),” the group said.  EcoWaste reported finding high concentrations of mercury in the analyzed creams using a handheld Olympus Vanta M-Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer: 29,200 ppm (Goree Gold 24 K Beauty Cream), 28,960 ppm (Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream), 28,150 ppm (Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene), and 2,352 ppm (88 Total White Underarm Cream).

On Jan. 15, the QC Government through the Business Permit and Licensing Department endorsed the complaints filed by the EcoWaste Coalition to the Office of FDA Director General Samuel Zacate “for information and proper disposition.”

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