BAN Toxics sounds the alarm after purchasing the Puteri Ratu Treatment Cream and Flashh Skinzz Treatment Cream in an online shopping site. Both products have been banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to its mercury content.

On May 26, FDA issued FDA Advisory No. 2022-1098, a public health warning against the purchase and use of the adulterated cosmetic products, Puteri Ratu Treatment Cream and Flashh Skinzz Treatment Cream, which both tested positive for mercury content as reported in the ASEAN Post-Marketing Alert System (PMAS). Mercury is not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product as per the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD). 

Using a SCIAPS X-200 HH XRF Analyzer, the skin lightening creams, with prices ranging from 229 PHP to 269 PHP, were found to have exceeding amounts of mercury, with levels up to 11,200 parts per million (ppm) over the regulatory limit. 

According to the World Health Organization Fact Sheets on Mercury and Health, mercury is considered as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern. Exposure to mercury, even small amounts, may cause serious health problems and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early stages in life. Mercury may also have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

“We were shocked that these banned skin lightening creams are still up for sale in Philippine e-commerce sites,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner, BAN Toxics. “The proliferation of mercury-laden skin lightening creams, especially in online shopping platforms, must be stopped once and for all.”

To recall, BAN Toxics has pushed the Philippine government to take action to curb mercury use in the country since 2007. The Minamata Convention on Mercury was ratified by the Philippine government on July 8, 2020. It is an international agreement established to protect human health and the environment from emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds caused by human activity. Article 4 of the Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits the manufacture, import, or export of specific mercury-added products after 2020. Under this article, all cosmetic products will be required to have mercury concentration of less than 1 part per million (ppm).

“We caution the public to be mindful of buying skin lightening creams that are already banned by the Food and Drug Administration. Do the necessary product review, check the FDA website for product advisories regularly, and exercise our right to ask and right to know to prevent exposure from toxic mercury, ” BAN Toxics added.