RP solons want beauty products analyzed, too

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is eyeing an investigation of local beauty products supposedly containing toxic ingredients in the wake of a scare caused by melamine-tainted milk. A resolution filed by three lawmakers said the investigation aims to protect the public from health risks and complications, including cancer. Filing House Resolution 760 were Reps. Luis Villafuerte (Camarines Sur), Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte) and Aurelio Gonzales (Pampanga). An article on the House of Representatives website said Romualdez raised the possibility of toxic substances by citing studies of the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. He said nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are toxic and have been linked to deadly side effects like skin cancer, skin allergies, asthma, interference with the endocrine (hormonal) system, impairment of reproduction, or damage a developing fetus. Also, he said the Personal Care and Safety Assessment findings showed one-third of all products assessed contained at least one ingredient that fall under the classification of human carcinogen (cancer-causing); and that 71 percent of the hair dye products evaluated had coal tar as an ingredient which is also carcinogenic. Likewise, 70 percent of the products reviewed were found to have ingredients tainted with impurities related to cancer and other health risks and complications, Romualdez said. He said a partial list of some of the ingredients used in hundreds of different skincare, cosmetics, hair care, body care and personal care products that had been classified as toxic by studies, include mineral oil, paraffin and petrolatum; parabens; sodium laurel or laurly sulfate (SLS); propylene glycol; formaldehyde; phenol (carbolic acid); acrylamide; toluene; dioxane; artificial coloring; artificial fragrance; coal tar; talc; silica; phthalates; resorcinol; lead acetate; and nitrosamines. Because of this, he asked the Bureau of Food and Drugs to review the chemical ingredients used in skincare, personal care, body care, hair care and cosmetic products and their corresponding side effects. "In the Philippines, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) does not require companies any mandatory testing for these personal care, skin care and cosmetic products for safety before they are sold in the market," he said. Due to lack of government monitoring, manufacturers of these types of products do not subject their products to any type of testing or safety standards but continue to produce and market their products using toxic ingredients, he said. He said these companies are free to make their own decisions and declarations on everything, from advertising claims to product quality even if several recent studies have shown them to cause health-damaging risks. Romualdez added that the House would require BFAD to submit an action plan that should include safety nets against the use, marketing, selling, and trading of these risky chemical-based ingredients that pose serious health and safety concerns to the unsuspecting public. - GMANews.TV