The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Tuesday (June 9) issued an alert on two cosmetic products sold online that were found to contain high mercury levels.
Investigations showed that these products were marketed for skin whitening on various online platforms such as blogs and shopping websites, said HSA in a press release. The products were detected through HSA’s ongoing market surveillance activities.
The two products are ‘Pati IbuPutih by Janna Lawwa Day Creamy FACE n BODY WHITE (PUTIH GEBU KEKAL)’ and ‘Pati IbuPutih by Janna Lawwa Night Creamy FACE n BODY WHITE (PUTIH GEBU KEKAL)’.
The HSA said that mercury is prohibited for use as an ingredient in cosmetic products, and may cause rashes, skin irritation and blotchiness of the skin. Chronic exposure to high levels of mercury in cosmetic products may affect the kidneys and nervous system as it can be absorbed through the skin.
The authority has advised members of the public to:
- Stop using and discard any of these products. If adverse effects are experienced after using the affected products, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Be aware of the risks of purchasing products online as it may be difficult to be certain about their source and conditions under which they were manufactured. They may be illegal, counterfeit or substandard, and may contain undeclared ingredients which can harm your health.
It is an offence for any person to import, sell and supply an illegal or unapproved health product, said HSA. Anyone found guilty of an offence under the Heath Products Act faces a fine of up to S$100,000 and/or three years in jail.
Members of the public with information on the sale and supply of the stated illegal products or any other product in the category may contact HSA’s Enforcement Branch at 6866-3485.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
