WATCHDOG group BAN Toxics has raised the alarm against the online sale of Thailand-made skin-lightening products (SLPs) that are contaminated with mercury – a known chemical hazard to human health and the environment.
In a recent online market monitoring, the group identified and purchased four (4) variants of the Dr. Yanhee Facial Cream Set in blue, green, purple, and red containers. Priced at P270, the sets include a soap, moisturizer, and day and night creams, with all labels written in Thai. The group has documented more than 50 sellers of these cosmetic products on popular e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee.
Each set comes with different applications: the blue set is for melasma and freckles, the green set is for anti-acne, the purple set is for gluta whitening, and the red set is for vitamins and glutathione. The products claim to be safe for teenagers, pregnant, and lactating mothers, with labels stating “No Mercury” and “No Hydroquinone.” They also claim to have been tested by Yanhee International Hospital, and certified by ISO and FDA.
“Consumers should take extra care not to be deceived by false advertisements that claim to be safe, effective, and free of harmful ingredients while hiding the danger of toxic mercury in cosmetic products,” said BAN Toxics Campaigner Thony Dizon.
Using a Vanta C Series HH XRF Analyzer, the group found high concentrations of mercury ranging from 11,300 to as high as 23,800 parts per million (ppm). This significantly exceeds the allowable limit of 1 ppm mercury content for SLPs set by the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to which the Philippine Government is a party. The DENR and FDA regulations, as well as the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, also adhere to the 1 ppm limit.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mercury and hazardous substances in cosmetics can cause kidney damage, skin rashes, discoloration, scarring, increased susceptibility to infections, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and peripheral neuropathy. For expecting mothers, exposure to these toxins is especially concerning due to the potential transfer to the fetus through the placenta and breast milk. Such exposure during fetal development and infancy could lead to lasting health risks.
The group has been monitoring the proliferation of mercury-tainted SLPs for the past years and calling the attention of regulatory agencies such as the FDA and DTI for enforcement actions to end the illegal trading of mercury-added products in both online and on-site markets in the country.
“The existing health and e-commerce regulations in the country should restrain online shopping platforms from continuously marketing unnotified, unregistered, and prohibited SLPs. The consumer’s right to health and safety must be protected and safeguarded.”
“We reiterate our appeal to online shopping platforms to take corrective action against cosmetic products that do not have proper authorization from the FDA. The deceitful actions of online sellers jeopardize public health and safety through toxic chemical exposure,” the group added.
The group communicated its findings to the Food and Drug Administration, urging it to conduct post-market surveillance and issue a public health warning to halt the unauthorized sale of Thailand-made skin-lightening products tainted with mercury. The group also recommended reporting the issue to the ASEAN Post-Marketing Alert System (PMAS) to alert the FDA counterpart in Thailand.
