BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has asked the Department of Trade and Industry to valide a report about stores in the city that are allegedly selling toxic cosmetics.
Domogan made the request to DTI after the Ecological Waste Coalition of the Philippines, Inc. (EcoWaste Coalition) alleged that three stores in the city were selling makeup with lead, mercury, chromium and arsenic levels above the normal level.
Thony Dizon, chemical safety campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition, lauded the swift response of Mayor Mauricio Domogan to the report lodged by their group on Monday, September 3, regarding the sale of toxic cosmetics in Baguio City.
“The stern action by the LGU will send a clear message to unscrupulous dealers of dangerous cosmetics that their unlawful act will not be tolerated,” added Dizon.
EcoWaste said they found the following products to be toxic:
- S’Zitang (gold box) manufactured in China and sold by the Pao-Pao Herbal & Beauty Products at the Maharlika Livelihood Complex at P80 with a mercury content of 1,643 ppm (for the day cream) and 3,177 ppm count for the night cream. The product has also been banned by the FDA since 2010.
- Lipstick branded MAC Mariah Carey #02 and #06 sold in the red and yellow canister also sold at the Maharlika area by Jian Ling General Merchandise at P120 were found to have lead content at 11,200 ppm, chromium at 1,346 ppm, arsenic at 386 ppm and mercury at 37 ppm [for the #06]; while the #02 had levels of lead reaching 42,800 ppm, chromium: 6,132 ppm, arsenic: 1,350 ppm and mercury: 63 ppm.
- S’Zitang 10-Day Whitening & Spot Day Night Set, also from China, sold by the Jerry & Hayden Herbal and General Merchandise Store at Rajah Soliman St at P100 had a mercury content of 2,607 ppm [day cream] and for the night cream at 414 ppm. The FDA has also banned the product since 2015.
Dizon added the probe of the DTI will be a welcome development.
“The representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry-CAR should be able to gather additional evidence that will attest to the flagrant sale of proscribed cosmetics in some retail outlets. The city government’s action will hopefully result in the imposition of necessary sanctions and penalties, including the suspension of business permit, against violators who are putting the health of Baguio consumers at risk of mercury and lead exposure,” he said.
Dizon added “the mercury-tainted skin whiteners and lead-loaded lipsticks we have reported, DTI-CAR should also be on the lookout for other health and cosmetic products that are sold without proper authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has repeatedly warned the consuming public that the safety and quality of health and cosmetic products, which have not undergone their assessment and verification, cannot be assured.”