CEBU - The Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health announced it will also monitor Chinese-made Cosmetics in different Department Stores soon.
This after BFAD Manila declared that it will start inspecting beauty products manufactured in China after the series of tests conducted on Chinese-made food products found containing toxic substances such as melamine.
BFAD-7 operation officer Monina Coyoca said they have not yet received an advisory from Manila to conduct inspections, but through their own initiative they might start it tomorrow.
Coyoca said cosmetics might contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury that may put users at risk.
Contaminated beauty products irritate the skin and cause other side effects. Coyoca said they will inspect lipsticks, foundation, facial cream, eye shadows, blush on and facial cleansers among others.
BFAD Manila, however, has not started the inspection yet because they are still busy with tests on Chinese-made food.
According to ABS-CBN news, BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez said manufacturers are allowed to use permissible additives in cosmetics included in the list determined by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She said BFAD has so far not reported case of tainted beauty products.
The list is BFAD’s guide to whether products are using non-permissible ingredients. Orders to check whether cosmetics companies are using harmful ingredients that are banned in other countries have been released.
“A study by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health showed that nearly 900 of the chemicals used in Chinese cosmetics are toxic and have been linked to deadly side effects such as skin cancer, skin allergies, asthma, reproductive disorders and damage to fetus,” according to ABS-CBN. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (THE FREEMAN)