QUEZON CITY — As Valentine’s Day is celebrated, the EcoWaste Coalition cautioned citizens from gifting the persons whom they love and care the most with perfume products containing a prohibited fragrance ingredient.
The toxics watchdog group made the precautionary warning after buying from local stores 51 eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and fragrance lotion and mist products listing butylphenyl methylpropional (BMHCA) as an ingredient. The authenticity of these products, which are mostly inadequately labeled, cannot be ascertained.
Based on the test buys conducted ahead of Valentine’s Day, 51 perfume products with BMHCA as an ingredient are being sold for P50 to P300 each at wholesale and retail perfume stores in Makati City (Ayala Circuit Mall), Manila City (11/88 Shopping Mall, 168 Shopping Mall, 999 and QQ Shopping Mall), Pasay City (Baclaran Terminal Plaza Mall) and Quezon City (Divimart).
Forbidden in cosmetics, this synthetic scent ingredient is classified as “reprotoxic” or a chemical that can damage the reproductive process and harm the health of the unborn child. It has also been identified as having endocrine-disrupting and skin-sensitizing properties.
The ban on BMHCA in cosmetic products took effect in the 27-country European Union (EU) on March 1, 2022, while the ban in the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, commenced on November 21, 2024, as per Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circular No. 2023-007.
Despite the ban, cosmetics containing BMHCA, perfume products in particular, remain readily available in the domestic market as confirmed by the EcoWaste Coalition’s market monitoring ahead of Valentine’s Day.
“Our investigation shows that cosmetics containing BMHCA can still be found on store shelves and sold to consumers who are unaware of the health risks of being exposed to such an ingredient that can damage the reproductive process and harm the health of the baby in the womb,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“We have duly informed the FDA about our findings and encouraged it to crack down on importers, distributors and sellers of BMHCA-containing cosmetics, which can also help in raising consumer awareness about this public health concern.”
Environmental health specialist Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health said: “Health product regulators in the European Union and the ASEAN banned BMHCA in cosmetics to protect consumers from this synthetic compound that can harm the reproductive system, interfere with hormonal functions, and trigger allergic reactions. Studies have linked exposure to BMHCA, a ‘reprotoxic’ chemical, to infertility, as well as causing harm to the fetus during pregnancy.”
“Banning BMHCA is indeed a step in the right direction. As there are other synthetic fragrance chemicals of concern, it’s important to require full ingredient disclosure or transparency to inform consumers and reduce potential exposure to harmful substances,” he emphasized.
As a general rule, consumers are advised to seek products with FDA authorization, read product labels carefully, and avoid those products listing butylphenyl methylpropional as an ingredient and when no specific information is provided other than the generic term “fragrance,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.
Aside from BMHCA, the US-based Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has identified other chemicals of concern in fragrances, many of which are associated with cancer, birth abnormalities, endocrine disruption, and chronic health problems, including acetaldehyde; benzophenone; butylated hydroxyanisole; butylated hydroxytoluene; benzyl salicylate; benzyl benzoate; butoxyethanol; chloromethane; dichloromethane; diethyl phthalate; ethylbenzene; eugenyl methyl ether; formaldehyde; ethanolamines; methanol; oxybenzone; propylparaben; resorcinol; styrene; synthetic musks; titanium dioxide; vinyl acetate; and 1,4-dioxane.
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Reference:
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FDA-Circular-No.2023-007.pdf
https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/fragrance/
List of 51 Perfumes, Possibly Imitation Products, Listing Banned Butylphenyl Methylpropional as an Ingredient:
212 Sexy Men Eau de Toilette; Aimore Black2 Men Eau de Toilette; Aimore Only Love pour Femme Eau de Perfume ; Allure Homme Sport Chanel Eau de Parfum ; Bulgari Omnia Amethyste Eau de Toilette; Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land Eau de Parfum; Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land Eau de Parfum (small); Chloe Eau de Parfum; ckIN2U Eau de Toilette; Classy Appeal Amber Romance Midnight Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Love Bloom Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Love Spell Midnight Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Pure Seduction Midnight Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Soul of No. 5 Refreshing Body Mist; Classy Appeal Vanilla Lace Midnight Fragrance Mist; Clinique Happy for Men Cologne Spray; Daisy Marc Jacobs Eau so Fresh Eau de Toilette Spray; Davidoff Cool Water; Deep in Blue Intense pour Homme Eau de Parfum; Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum; Escada Sentiment; Eternity Eau de Toilette Spray; Eternity Eau de Toilette Spray (gray box; small); Eternity Eau de Toilette Spray (brown box; small); Hidden Fantasy Britney Spears Eau de Parfum Spray; I Angel Lady Happy Women’s Perfume; I Angel Scarves Women’s Perfume; Incanto Shine Eau de Toilette ; Incanto Sky Eau de Parfum ; Lacoste Black; Lacoste Dream of Pink Eau de Toilette; Lacoste Essential Eau de Toilette pour Homme; Lacoste Red; Lacoste White; Magic in the Air Fine Fragrance Mist; Meow by Katy Perry Eau de Parfum; Ounuo Sesenta y Ocho Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Dos Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Tres Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Cinco Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Siete Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Ounuo Setenta y Ocho Eau de Parfum Natural Spray; Versace Bright Crystal; Versace Eros Natural Spray ; Versace pour Homme; Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla La Crème Fragrance Mist; Victoria’s Secret Bombshell First Love Fine Fragrance Mist; Victoria’s Secret Love Addict Fragrance Mist; Victoria’s Secret Fruit Crush Fragrance Lotion; Victoria’s Secret Rush Fragrance Mist; and Victoria’s Secret XO, Victoria Eau de Parfum.
