The EcoWaste Coalition, a toxics
watchdog, has thrown its support behind the move by the Indonesian health
authorities to ban hazardous lipsticks with arsenic and lead content that were
first banned in the Philippines last year.
watchdog, has thrown its support behind the move by the Indonesian health
authorities to ban hazardous lipsticks with arsenic and lead content that were
first banned in the Philippines last year.
Through Public Warning No. HM.03.03.1.43.12.14.7870, Indonesia’s National
Agency for Drug and Food Control (Badan POM) banned 20 lipsticks for violating
the arsenic and lead limits under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive at 5 and 20
parts per million (ppm), respectively.
Agency for Drug and Food Control (Badan POM) banned 20 lipsticks for violating
the arsenic and lead limits under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive at 5 and 20
parts per million (ppm), respectively.
“These are the same lipsticks that our own government banned in 2014 after
confirming their arsenic and lead content as reported by our group,” said
Aileen Lucero, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
confirming their arsenic and lead content as reported by our group,” said
Aileen Lucero, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
Through Advisory No. 2014-031, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of
the Philippines banned 20 lipsticks for exceeding the arsenic and lead limits
for cosmetics.
the Philippines banned 20 lipsticks for exceeding the arsenic and lead limits
for cosmetics.
The 20 banned cosmetics are variants of Baolishi, Chanleevi, Kiss
Beauty, Miss Beauty and Monaliza lipsticks; 18 were banned for
containing lead and 2 for arsenic above the maximum allowable
limits. .
Beauty, Miss Beauty and Monaliza lipsticks; 18 were banned for
containing lead and 2 for arsenic above the maximum allowable
limits. .
“We are delighted to see regulatory agencies in Indonesia and the
Philippines taking identical action to protect consumers against unregistered
cosmetics with dangerous levels of toxic metals,” Lucero said.
Philippines taking identical action to protect consumers against unregistered
cosmetics with dangerous levels of toxic metals,” Lucero said.
“Such action by Badan POM and FDA would surely bolster the implementation of
the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive,” she said.
the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive,” she said.
“This, we believe, would make it harder for illegal traders to evade the
required cosmetics notification procedures and dump their dangerous goods into
the informal market in Divisoria and elsewhere,” she added.
required cosmetics notification procedures and dump their dangerous goods into
the informal market in Divisoria and elsewhere,” she added.
“We hope to see more inter-country collaboration and synergy in the enforcement
of health regulations as the ASEAN moves towards increased market integration
in 2015,” she stated.
of health regulations as the ASEAN moves towards increased market integration
in 2015,” she stated.
The EcoWaste Coalition belatedly learned about the Badan POM’s initiative from
Gita Pertiwi (an Indonesian environmental NGO), which provided the group with a
copy of the aforementioned Public Warning last April 21.
Gita Pertiwi (an Indonesian environmental NGO), which provided the group with a
copy of the aforementioned Public Warning last April 21.
Both the EcoWaste Coalition and Gita Pertiwi took part in the “IPEN
Asian NGO Gathering” held in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 16-18 that, among
other things, discussed and expanded the participants’ understanding of
important international chemical policy developments for a toxics-free future.
Asian NGO Gathering” held in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 16-18 that, among
other things, discussed and expanded the participants’ understanding of
important international chemical policy developments for a toxics-free future.
Badan POM’s Public Warning issued in December 2014 prohibits the sale of 68
cosmetics, including lipsticks laced with arsenic and lead and facial skin
whitening creams laden with hydroquinone and mercury.
cosmetics, including lipsticks laced with arsenic and lead and facial skin
whitening creams laden with hydroquinone and mercury.
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