DOH wages war against skin whiteners

The Food and Drug Administration on Sunday ordered its personnel to beef up their operations against harmful skin whitening products after it was found that these cosmetics are still being sold in the country.

The order was implemented following the discovery of environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition that at least five banned skin whitening products were openly sold in a Baclaran Mall.

These five products are included in the 50 products containing excessive amounts of mercury that were banned by the FDA in 2010 and 2011.

The FDA ordered the Regulation Division 1, headed by Nemia Getes, to double up its seizure operations in Metro Manila and the provinces.

It also urged the Bureau of Customs to be more vigilant in stopping the release of these unregistered products.

EcoWaste Coalition said the FDA should go after the vendors of these banned skin whitening products.

"It's high time for unscrupulous traders to face the strong arm of the law for selling hazardous products laced with mercury," said Manny Calonzo, EcoWaste Coalition's Officer-in-Charge.

The coalition sent a letter to FDA officer-in-charge Nicolas Lutero III to inform him of its discovery.

It said its Alertoxic Patrol group went to Baclaran on June 30 and found out that five banned cosmetics were sold in a mall.

The coalition asked the FDA to send inspectors to the Baclaran mall to issue a notice of violation to the shops. It also urged the FDA to forge an agreement with the management of the Baclaran Mall to cooperate with them to present the distribution and the sale of banned cosmetics.

The coalition said that the World Health Organization warned that kidney damage may result in the use of skin lightening soaps cream that contain inorganic mercury. - doh.gov.ph — ARA