More than P100,000 worth of toxic beauty products were confiscated in Baguio City during a surprise inspection conducted by personnel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies on Wednesday, July 20.
The confiscated cosmetic products of different brands were found to contain dangerous mercury levels which were being sold at various shops in the city.
FDA Regional Supervisor Saturnina Pandosen said the inspection was in response to the Eco-Waste Coalition’s report on the ‘incessant sale of mercury-containing cosmetics’ in the city.
The FDA personnel together with the Regulatory Enforcement Unit North Luzon Cluster joined in the surprise inspection.
Along with the FDA and REU, personnel from the Permits and Licensing Division and Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor’s Office and Sanitation Division of the City Health Services Office conducted their separate inspections of sellers of cosmetics products at stalls in the business district area.
The FDA advises consumers to purchase cosmetic products with FDA authorization and sold at legitimate outlets
The confiscated products include more than 40 assorted soaps, lipsticks, face cleanser, whitening soaps, hair color cream, shampoo among others.
Among the brands on the list of cosmetics without FDA notification that were found to contain heavy metals beyond the permissible limit are Daiyasi UV Resistance and BB Whitening Spray, Aichun Beauty Aloe Vera, Erna Black, Feique Cucumber Anti-Wrinkle Whitening Set and Rose Refining Nourishing Set, Huichundemei Extreme Whitening Deluxe Version, Jiaoh 7 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Cream, Jiao Liang Miraculous Cream, Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening All Set, Jiaoli Speckle Removing and Nourishing Assembly, Lianglibai, Pan Yu health Beautiful Whitening Removing Speckle Package, Palamna Day and Night Cream, and Qian Mei.
Also found to have high content of mercury were Qunbanshuang, Shengniya 7Day Freckle Eliminating, S’zitang sets, Women of Flower Whitening and Speckle Removal A and B Series, Xin Jiao Li 10-day Whitening Speckle Removing Cream, Zixinmei Face Beauty (pink and purple boxes), Charm Charm, Ashley Shine New Formulized Moisture Lipstick #07, Monaliza Series Lipstick #05, Kiss Beauty Profession al BB Cinema Lipstick, Monaliza Series Maging Pink Blush, A&W with UV protection whitening, Miss Doozy #3, Jiaoli, Corona Papaya, Dove Tawas with perfume powder, Baby Looney Tunes baby wipes, Goree beauty products, Kojic original acid soap, Dianne, Dau-Nong Trong, Musk hemorrhoids ointment, Kokando, Renow-D facial cream, Kwan Loong medicated oil, Savol Tianfeng Hair Color Cream Grape Red, AS Ashley Nude Blusher Double Profusion Blush (4)
Aww… Bad for business owners but is also bad for consumers.