PHL FDA bans, orders seizure of at least 15 unauthorized cosmetic products

At least 15 cosmetic products, most of them from China, have been added to the list of beauty products banned in the Philippines.

 

The Food and Drug Administration ordered the seizure of the products, which it declared "unsafe and pose imminent danger or injury to consumers."

 

"These products may contain levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic beyond the allowable limits based on the ASEAN standards. Continuous use of these products may cause adverse or allergic reactions that can result to severe or irreversible skin problem," FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go said in FDA Advisory 2013-019.

 

He also noted the products have no market authorization from the FDA, and were not manuactured in compliance with the Code of current Good Manufacturing Practice.

 

Banned and ordered seized were:

 

1. Baiyansu Three-in-One Whitening Set

2. Beauty Girl Green Cucumber 6 Days Double Whitening Soft Essence Cream

3. Bihuayn Whitening Day Cream

4. Care Skin Strong Whitening and Spot Removing Package

5. Gakadi Freckle Removing Cream

6. Huayuenong 12 Days Whitening and Speckle Removing Wrecking Set

7. White Advance Hydroxytyrosol L-Glutathione Whitening and Anti-Aging Cream

8. Yudantang Ginseng and Green Cucumber 10 Days Whitening Speckles Removed Essence

9. Yudantang Green Olive and Papaya Natural Essence 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream

10. Yudantang Sea Pearl and Papaya 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Cream

11. Specific Eliminating Freckle Spot and Double Whitening Sun Block Cream

12. Yudantang 10 Days Whitening Speckles Removed Essence, with picture of a cow and papaya

13. Zyiang Day Cream

14. Whitening Cream, with the rest of the label in Chinese characters

15. Label in Chinese characters, gold package, with picture of red flower with three green leaves

 

The advisory's list had 16 entries but mentioned Huayuenong 12 Days Whitening and Speckle Removing Wrecking Set twice.

 

Hartigan-Go urged the public to use products that are notified and acknowledged by the FDA, and to carefully read labels of cosmetic products before buying them.

 

All FDA-authorized cosmetic products should have on their label the following information:

 

- name and address of the local company

- full ingredient listing

- batch code

- date of manufacture or expiration date

 

He urged the public to verify if a cosmetic product has been issued a certificate of notification by visiting www.fda.gov.ph, and to report adverse effects of the products to report@fda.gov.ph.  — ELR, GMA News