TOXIC watchdog group BAN Toxics is urging Bicolanas and Bicolanos to be wary of banned skin lightening products (SLPs) containing toxic mercury, which are being sold in some beauty stores in Daet, Camarines Norte, and Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Recent market monitoring conducted by the group from April 26 to 29 revealed the continued sale of Goree products—namely, Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream—and 88 Underarm Whitening Cream, all of which have been prohibited for sale and use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The FDA issuance against unnotified cosmetic products containing toxic mercury should serve as a public health warning. These products are hazardous to human health, yet the continued sale of SLPs remains unchecked,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner of BAN Toxics.
Mercury is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the top chemicals of major health concern due to its toxicity and adverse effects on human health and the environment. Exposure to mercury and its compounds can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, and in some cases, can be fatal. Major sources of mercury exposure include dental amalgams, mercury-containing medical devices, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities.
BAN Toxics has been actively monitoring the sale of mercury-containing SLPs and has contributed to a report published by the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG). The report provides evidence that these hazardous products remain widely accessible, despite being banned under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Last year, the group purchased and analyzed 50 skin-whitening products using a Vanta C Series XRF Handheld Chemical Analyzer to determine mercury content. Among the samples, Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene was found to contain 16,100 parts per million (ppm) of mercury; Goree Day and Night Beauty Cream, 17,200 ppm; and 88 Underarm Whitening Cream, 2,580 ppm—all far exceeding the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
BAN Toxics urges beauty shop owners to ensure that the cosmetic products they sell have valid Cosmetic Product Notifications from the regulatory agency to safeguard public health and safety.
The group also calls on regulatory agencies to conduct post-marketing surveillance and enforcement actions to ensure that these prohibited products are removed from the market. They further emphasize the need for stricter product standards and enhanced consumer protection.
