Warning Out on Mercury-Tainted Skin Whitening Creams Sold Online Despite Being Banned in 4 ASEAN Countries
17 September 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition has again cautioned the general public, especially those aspiring for a lighter skin tone, from consuming mercury-added cosmetics that have been flagged by the health authorities in at least 4 ASEAN member states, particularly Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines.
Mercury is a highly toxic chemical added to some skin whitening products to suppress the body’s production of melanin making the skin appear lighter. Because of its harmful effects, mercury use in cosmetics has been banned under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
For its latest market investigation, the EcoWaste Coalition managed to buy Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream (costing P75/set) and Temulawak Day & Night Cream (costing P65/set) from an online seller based in Zamboanga City.
The group criticized the continued importation of the above products, which are suspected of being smuggled from Indonesia and/or Malaysia and unlawfully sold in some online and physical cosmetic stores across the country.
As stamped on its packaging, the Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream was manufactured in 2024, way past the 2020 global phase-out deadline on the manufacture, export and import of mercury-added cosmetics, and will expire in 2028. The Temulawak product indicated no production and expiration dates.
As indicated on their labels, Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream “instantly hydrates and provides new energy to dull and lackluster skin to revive radiance,” while Temulawak Day & Night Cream “eliminate black spots, acne and wrinkles,” adding “the rough and black skin can turn white, clean and luminous.”
The products were then subjected to chemical screening using an Olympus Vanta M Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device to check for prohibited substances, mercury in particular, which must not exceed the maximum limit of one part per million (ppm).
According to the XRF screening results, the night creams of Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream and Temulawak Day & Night Cream are both contaminated with excessive levels of mercury measured at 6,008 ppm and 2,538 ppm, respectively.
The two products are among the mercury-adulterated cosmetics flagged by the health authorities of Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, the EcoWaste Coalition pointed out.
Products similar to Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream were also banned by Brunei’s Ministry of Health, Myanmar’s Ministry of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines in 2023. The Philippine FDA also banned products comparable to Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream in 2017 and 2021.
In 2018, the Philippine FDA issued an advisory against Temulawak Day & Night Cream after Brunei’s Ministry of Health tested and found the product adulterated with mercury. The FDA also issued another advisory in 2022 against unauthorized Temulawak products. Myanmar’s FDA also reported finding mercury in Temulawak Day & Night Cream in 2018.
Collagen Day & Night Cream and Temulawak Day & Night Cream are included in the list of mercury-containing cosmetics published in 2023 by Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).
As stated in the 2018 FDA advisory against Temulawak Day & Night Cream: “Mercury is a naturally occurring heavy metal, which is known to be severely hazardous to health even in small amounts. People exposed to mercury exhibit symptoms including, but not limited to, tremors, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet, gingivitis or inflammation of the gums, pink discoloration of the hands and feet, especially in children, irritability, and photophobia or sensitivity to light.”
“Nursing mothers are doubly vulnerable because mercury is passed on to nursing babies through breast milk, which can affect the baby’s development,” it added.
To protect consumers and even non-consumers like young children and fetuses from mercury exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition appealed for strengthened strategy and action involving all stakeholders to put an end to the illegal trade of mercury cosmetics.
The group again reminded Filipinos that “there is beauty and dignity in our natural skin color, so refrain from using skin bleaching, lightening or whitening products, particularly contraband cosmetics (which are) not guaranteed safe from mercury, hydroquinone, and other harmful substances.” (PR)
Reference:
(product #30 and #129)
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FDA-Advisory-No.-2018-106.pdf
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FDA-Advisory-No.-2017-314.pdf
