Dermatologists back drive vs mercury-laden cosmetics

Professional dermatologists and a proenvironment group have signed a joint statement supporting the government’s efforts against mercury-laced skin whitening cosmetics openly sold in the country.

The Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and EcoWaste Coalition said they are backing the government’s action to end “the unlawful dumping of mercury-added cosmetics into the domestic market.”

Numerous studies have proven that mercury in cosmetic and other consumer products pose serious health risks and consequences to consumers.

PDS president Dr. Daisy Ismael and EcoWaste president Sonia Mendoza said the illegal trade “continues to spread and persist despite sustained efforts by the government, the health sector, civil society and the media to expose and put a stop to this wrongdoing.”

They said “poor women unduly suffer from the side effects of using cheap but unregistered skin whitening products with banned ingredients such as mercury.”

The two groups “called upon all stakeholders to support intensified regulatory action by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) against skin whitening cosmetics with no market authorization and containing mercury and other hazardous chemicals as well as biological contaminants.”

They asked the FDA “to prosecute violators to the full extent of the law.”

Consumers, they said, should “patronize registered cosmetics sold in legitimate retail outlets and to support early skin disease detection and prevention through proper dermatological care.”

EcoWaste disclosed that its investigation in 50 cities nationwide showed that 316 of the 355 samples of unregistered skin whitening facial creams exceeded the mercury limit of 1 part per million under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive. (Jonathan M. Hicap)