HOMEGROWN company RDL Pharmaceutical Laboratory Inc. said they are not producing the products that Singapore health authorities have issued a warning on.
On January 31, 2019, the Health Sciences and Authority (HSA) of the Singapore Ministry of Health warned consumers on the use of RDL Babyface Whitening Cream Night Cream 5 in 1 and RDL Face Off Fade-Out Cream Day Cream 5 in 1 after they were found to contain mercury, a toxic metal. The products were being distributed and imported by Arklife Distributors Pte Ltd. in Singapore.
However, Mercedita D. Lim, RDL executive vice president for operations, said they do not produce such products because the packaging alone is different from what they have on the market.
"Yan na ang nangyayari, because karamihan sa mga produkto namin, pini-peke na sa abroad (This is happening because some of our products are being counterfeited abroad)," Lim said.
She said they are now taking legal action to prevent the counterfeiting of RDL products.
Meanwhile, HSA said, "Mercury is a toxic heavy metal and is prohibited for use as an ingredient in cosmetic products."
It added that "regular application of creams containing mercury could lead to rash, skin discolouration and blotching while long-term exposure to high levels of mercury in cosmetic products can cause serious health consequences, including damage to the kidneys, digestive and nervous systems."
Sellers and distributors of the products in Singapore have been directed to stop the selling of the products.