BORACAY – The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition lauded the efforts of the local government unit (LGU) of Malay, Aklan and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Western Visayas to curb the unlawful sale of mercury-containing cosmetics in Boracay Island.
Mercury is known to have toxic effects on the skin and the digestive, immune, nervous, renal, and respiratory systems, and can also affect the development of unborn babies. Renal failure may occur in severe cases.
“We commend the Malay LGU and FDA Region 6 for coordinating and taking steps to address the report that we filed regarding the illicit sale in Boracay of forbidden cosmetics adulterated with high levels of mercury, which can endanger human health and the ecosystems,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
Among the signs and symptoms of mercury exposure are changes in hearing, vision or taste, difficulty concentrating, depression, insomnia, irritability, memory deterioration, shyness, tingling in feet, hands, tremors or around the mouth, and tremors.
“What we have discovered is just the tip of the iceberg. We encourage local authorities and the FDA to expand the investigation and ensure prohibited cosmetic products that pose mercury exposure risks are not traded in Malay and the rest of Region 6,” Lucero said.
On February 5, the EcoWaste Coalition reported to Malay’s Mayor Floribar Bautista about the sale of skin lightening products in Boracay that have been banned by the FDA for being sold without the required certificates of product notification and/or for containing mercury, a toxic chemical not allowed in the composition of cosmetic products.
In their letter to Mayor Bautista, the group pointed out that the sale of such unauthorized and mercury-laden cosmetics is blatantly illegal and requested his office “to initiate speedy action to stop such trade that can put the health of (his) constituents and the environment at risk of mercury contamination.”
Among the FDA-banned cosmetics being offered for sale in the country’s top tourist spot are 88 Total White Underarm Cream, Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, and Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream. As indicated on their labels, the three Goree products are made in Pakistan, while 88 Total White is made in Thailand.
According to the analysis of samples purchased by the EcoWaste Coalition using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, Goree Gold 24K Beauty Cream and 88 Total White Underarm Cream contained 28,420 parts per million (ppm), 26,390 ppm, and 2,064 ppm of mercury, respectively. The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive set a trace amount limit of 1 ppm for mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in cosmetics.
Upon receipt of the EcoWaste Coalition’s report, the Malay LGU requested for the “assistance and immediate appropriate action” of the FDA Region 6 based in Iloilo City, which subsequently deployed a team of food-drug regulation officers to Boracay to conduct an investigation.
Based on the inspection conducted on February 27, two variants of the FDA-banned Goree Beauty Cream and 88 Total White Underarm Cream were on the store shelves at the time of the visit. The store personnel were not able to present sales invoices or delivery receipts, which could have shed light on who the product suppliers were.
Inventoried and sealed were 12 pieces of Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene, 13 pieces of Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream, and 7 pieces of 88 Total White Underarm Cream.
The food-drug regulation officers directed the store to cease from selling products covered by FDA advisories. The store personnel were also instructed not to move or open the inventoried and sealed violative products until advised by the FDA.
“This case will be forwarded to the FDA Legal Services Support Center for further action,” the FDA Region 6 said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers mercury among the 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
“To protect the public health from negative health effects of mercury in skin lightening products, actions are needed that engage different parts of society,” the WHO said.
To address this global health issue, the WHO, among other steps, recommends establishing or improving legislation, implementing compliance and enforcement strategies, strengthening laboratory capacity, conducting advocacy campaigns, and increasing awareness of health risks associated with skin lightening products, including those containing mercury./PN
