Health Authorities Ban 27 Cosmetic Products

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health has advised members of the public against purchasing or using a total of 27 cosmetic products which are found to be adulterated with banned substances.

The advisory is based on the report from the National Agency of Food and Drug Control of a neighbouring country that said that the products contain substances such as Mercury, Rhodamine B, and CI Pigment Red 53.

The banned cosmetic products were mainly from China, Taipei - Taiwan and Hong Kong. Among them include Leving Pearl Cream; Yellow and White Cream (Chinese characters) ; Paimei A and B AntiFreckles; Baby Change Eye Shadow and Blush' White Jade Pearl Past Moisture and Health; Eren Water Shine and Crystal Lipstik and Lip Gloss; Ya Shang 5 in 1 Lip Gloss, Eye Shadow, Mascara, Blush, Powder Cake (No. 02000;02636).

According to the Ministry of Health, some of these products contain substances which are controlled under the Poisons Act (Chapter 114) and it is an offence to import, sell or offer for sale any product containing a poison without a licence.

The Ministry would like to remind the public that it is an offence under Poison Act 1956 to sell any product containing any substance controlled under the Poisons Act and the penalty for such an offence, upon conviction is a fine of $8,000 imprisonment of 6 months.

The banned substance Mercury is a heavy metal that is considered harmful and may act as a poison even at low concentrations. Use of this substance on skin may result in adverse-effects such as skin pigmentation, allergy and skin irritation. While at higher concentrations it may cause permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, and affects foetal development. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of mercury may, cause vomiting, diarrhoea and lung damage and is a form of carcinogen that may cause cancer to humans.

While Rhodamine B and CI Pigment Red 53 are synthetic colourants 'which are generally used in paper, textile or tints.

These forms of colourants may cause irritation to the respiratory tract and is a form of carcinogen that may cause cancer. Rhodamine may cause liver damage at high concentrations.

Members of the public who have the affected products are advised to destroy or surrender them to the Pharmacy Enforcement Section, BSB Health Centre in Jalan Ong Sum Ping. For further information on this matter call the Pharmacy Enforcement Section at 2230036. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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