precaution when buying unregistered cosmetics, particularly in budget
shops and malls, which may contain dangerous contaminants or
ingredients beyond allowable limits.
The EcoWaste Coalition, a chemical safety and zero waste watchdog, sounded the
alarm over the unrestricted sale of smuggled cosmetics in Divisoria and Quiapo
following a recent market investigation in Manila’s must-visit places for
bargain hunters.
Prompted by a fresh advisory issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)
on three lipsticks and whitening spray with high lead content, the group’s
AlerToxic Patrol last week obtained 35 samples of lipsticks costing P12.50 to
P50 each from one department store and seven cosmetics retailers in the area.
“We verified through the FDA’s website if the lipsticks had the required market
authorization and found out that most are not notified with the agency and
therefore not authorized to be in the market,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator,
EcoWaste Coalition.
Notified cosmetics carry the following information in English on the
product label, package or leaflet: name, ingredients, net
content, instruction on usage, batch number, special precautions
if any, and country of manufacture and/or importer.
Among these unnotified lipsticks are Aili Kiss, Baolishi,
Chanleevi, Daiyasi, Ily, Lidanxiu, Meiya, Miss Beauty, Miss Merry,
Monaliza, Pure, Yan Di and one that only says “Lipstick,” the EcoWaste
Coalition reported.
In addition, the group expressed concern over the sale of the more expensive
“Class A” imitations of high-end lipstick brands, particularly in Divisoria.
“The booming sale of illegal cosmetics is very alarming with the culprits
enjoying virtual impunity. This is frightening as some of these products
are laden with dangerous chemicals posing serious health and environmental
hazards,” she added.
“Some lipsticks are terribly toxic with astronomical amounts of lead, a potent
brain and developmental toxin,” she pointed out.
For example, the group detected atrocious levels of lead, over and above the 20
parts per million (ppm) limit under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive, in several
Baolishi and Monaliza lipsticks in the range of 2,278 to 17,100 ppm
as measured by a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer.
lipsticks ordered seized by the FDA in three advisories issued in 2013, 2014
and 2015 for exceeding the lead limit or for being marketed without the
required authorization from the agency. Thirty-three of these 36 lipsticks
were brought to the attention of the FDA by the EcoWaste Coalition
and subsequently banned.
The FDA had earlier warned that lipsticks with no market authorization “may contain high levels of heavy metals, especially lead, a proven
toxicant that accumulates in the body through constant exposure and absorption
over a prolonged period.”
“ Health problems through chronic ingestion of high level of lead in lipsticks
may manifest as neurologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and
renal problems,” the FDA warned.
“In adults, lead toxicant has been linked with high blood pressure, joint pain,
poor memory, and concentration problems. Lead easily crosses the placenta, and
pregnant women should pay particular attention to the different sources of lead
exposure,” the FDA said.
The EcoWaste Coalition last Friday sent 10
lipstick samples to the FDA for confirmatory laboratory analysis for toxic lead
and mercury.
-end-
Reference:
http://www.fda.gov.ph/advisories/cosmetic/217573-fda-advisory-no-2015-002
http://www.fda.gov.ph/advisories/cosmetic/103530-fda-advisory