Toxics and pollution watchdog BAN Toxics has warned the public about the continued sale of banned skin whitening products in some beauty shops in Quezon City. These products, prohibited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to their harmful mercury content, remain accessible to consumers.
During a market monitoring activity on March 12, the group successfully purchased and documented the over-the-counter sale of banned skin whitening creams, including Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene Avocado & Aloe Vera, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream Oil Free Total Fairness System, and Goree Gold 24k Beauty Cream, in Cubao and Commonwealth Market, Quezon City.
Using a portable Olympus Vanta C Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the samples were tested and found to contain mercury concentrations ranging from 15,600 parts per million (ppm) to as high as 86,000 ppm — far exceeding the 1 ppm regulatory limit set by the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.
“We are dismayed that the illegal trade of prohibited cosmetic products persists despite existing regulations in the city and the country,” said Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics. “Enforcement action should be taken proactively by regulators and local government units to prevent the further use and sale of mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs).”
In an email sent to the Food and Drug Administration and the Quezon City Health Department, BAN Toxics called for an immediate investigation and regulatory action against the reported beauty shops in Quezon City, violating the FDA Act of 2009 and Quezon City Ordinance No. 2767.
The ordinance prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of mercury-containing skin-whitening cosmetics in Quezon City. Section 4 mandates that all manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers — including street vendors, “tiangge” markets, and online sellers — cease all business activities involving mercury-laden cosmetics.
Mercury, identified by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern, poses severe risks to human health and the environment. It is known to adversely affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.
BAN Toxics urged the Quezon City government to strengthen enforcement actions against beauty shop owners violating regulations on prohibited cosmetic products to safeguard consumer health and safety.
