In a statement published on the Philippines FDA website, various imported shampoos, toothpastes, hair dyes, and skin creams were discovered not to have gone through mandatory registration and evaluation with the agency.
The unregistered products includes a L’Oreal BB Cream, Tesco Revitalising Shampoo Tea Tree, White Glo Extra Strength, PS Hair Colorant from Guangzhou, Active-care Green Tea and Verdon Series Hair Colorant.
“All consumers are advised to buy cosmetics that have FDA market authorization and only from legitimate outlets. All establishments and outlets are hereby warned against selling the identified products. Anyone found selling these products will be penalized,” Health Secretary, Janette Garin warned in an official document on the FDA's website.
In the meantime, the Bureau of Customs has been tasked with looking out for any attempts to smuggle in unregistered products.
Philippines makes moves to strengthen cosmetics regulations
The Philippines government recently introduced laws to ban the use of lead in a host of consumer products, including cosmetics and personal, in a move that brings it up to speed with other Asian countries.
Pressure had been mounting from environmental groups in the country to ban the uses of lead, reported to be an environmental hazard that is highly toxic and very difficult to remove once pollution has occurred.
Exposure or ingestion of lead can cause significantl harm in humans, mainly affecting the nervous system and vital organs, as well as the development of children.
Although lead has never been an intentionally added ingredient of any cosmetic or personal care products, it is found naturally in air, water and soil, which means its can occasionally show up as a trace element in products.
However, those new regulations implemented last year did stipulate that a range of consumers products, including cosmetics, food and drink and toys will have to comply with the new regulation, Order No. 203-24.