IN A bid to have a healthier face, Baguio City Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., proposed an ordinance to regulate cosmetic products in the city.
To be approved on its first reading next week, Yangot said the legislative measure aims to encourage and reach out to all the men and women to choose having a healthier, safe, green, more natural and refreshing skin and body away from makeup addiction.
If the proposed ordinance becomes a law, an intensified law enforcement will take effect against manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of adulterated and fake products, including the confiscation and destruction of non-FDA approved products will be in effect.
Yangot aims to put an end to the illegal manufacture, importation, marketing and promotion, distribution and sale of unregistered cosmetic products; promote citizen awareness about the health and environmental impacts of consuming toxic-chemical containing cosmetics; and discourage consumers from patronizing cheap yet perilous cosmetic products.
He cited the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment declaration on mercury use in cosmetic products leading to adverse effects including skin rashes, discoloring and scarring, and can reduce skin resistance to bacterial and mycotic skin disorders with the direct and prolonged use and exposure during of soaps, creams, lipsticks and other cosmetic products containing heavy metal contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury can cause kidney failure, miscarriage, birth defects and neurodevelopmental deficits.
The alderman pointed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009 tagging it illegal to manufacture, import, export, sell, offer to sell, distribute, transfer, use, promote or advertise any health product that is unregistered, misbranded, adulterated and without the proper authorization from the FDA.
In the Philippines, EcoWaste Coalition confirmed the wide circulation of cosmetics containing outrageous levels of impurities thru e-commerce websites, and sellers from different parts of the country including Baguio City were promoting said non-compliant products.
The proposed ordinance applies to cosmetics like creams, lipsticks, eye pencils, mascara, lotions or soaps designed to whiten the skin, and banning the manufacture, importation, marketing and promotion, distribution and sale of mercury-laden cosmetics as well as sale, retail or wholesale, of unregistered or non-FDA approved cosmetic products.
When confiscated, an open burning, dumping or disposal of illegal, confiscated or recalled cosmetics containing toxic chemicals will take place.
Yangot has identified the Baguio City Health Services Office to lead in the implementation of cosmetic law.
