QUEZON CITY — The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition lauded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for issuing public health warnings against unauthorized skin lightening products from Pakistan, which may cause mercury exposure risks to users and their households.
On Oct. 3 and 5, the FDA posted on its website Advisory Numbers 2026-1430, 2026-1429, and 2026-1320, warning the public against the purchase and use of Pure Herbs Seven Herbal Beauty Cream with Sun Screen, Fresh & White Beauty Cream, and Sativa Beauty Cream with Herbal Extracts, respectively.
These products lacked certificates of product notification, making their importation, distribution, promotion, advertising, and sale illegal under Republic Act No. 9711, or the FDA Act of 2009, which regulates and prohibits health products without proper FDA authorization.
Unauthorized products have not been duly evaluated for their quality and safety, and using them “may pose health risks to consumers,” the advisories warned. “Potential hazards may come from ingredients that are not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product or from the contamination of heavy metals.”
Mercury, a heavy metal, is not permitted in cosmetic product formulations. Under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, mercury as a heavy metal contaminant in cosmetics cannot exceed the maximum limit of one part per million (ppm). The Minamata Convention on Mercury explicitly bans mercury in cosmetics, such as skin lightening creams and soaps.
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition and duly reported to the FDA found Fresh & White, Pure Herbs Seven Herbal, and Sativa facial creams contaminated with 27,270 ppm, 19,750 ppm, and 17,480 ppm of mercury, respectively.
This year, the FDA flagged 14 Pakistan-made skin lightening products with no market authorization and with mercury content up to 33,970 ppm, based on EcoWaste Coalition’s XRF screening activities.
While commending the FDA for the series of public health warnings, the EcoWaste Coalition emphasized the need for Pakistan, where these mercury-containing cosmetics are made, to eliminate the supply at the source.
Halting production at the source will stop these toxic skin lighteners from entering global commerce, facilitated by the ascent of e-commerce and social media platforms, the EcoWaste Coalition said.
More importantly, a global halt in the production and trade of mercury-containing skin lightening products will protect direct users from the adverse effects of mercury exposure, protect family members from secondary exposure through breathing in mercury vapors from adulterated products or sharing tainted pillows, blankets, and towels, as well as protect water systems and aquatic organisms from being polluted by mercury
The EcoWaste Coalition again urged those aspiring for a fairer skin tone to embrace their natural skin color, and challenge colorism, a form of discrimination or prejudice that favors people with lighter skin. “Reject chemical whiteners entirely and take pride in your natural skin complexion,” the group said.
