Those who use skincare products have probably heard advice like “Don’t buy cheap ones!”, “Buy skincare products carefully!” and “Please read the label ah!”.
Skincare and makeup products containing dangerous ingredients have always been a major concern. Even though some of these products seem like they work, they might contain harmful ingredients that cause long term side effects.
Just today (6th August), the Ministry of Health (KKM) shared a list of cosmetic products that have dangerous poisonous chemicals which have been identified by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
These products are:
Source: Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
According to Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah (Director-General of Health), as soon as these harmful chemicals were detected in the products, a notification was sent out to the companies that produce them. Henceforth, these products are banned from being sold in Malaysia.
“Mercury is not allowed in cosmetic products because it can harm one’s health. Mercury can seep into our body and cause damage to our kidneys and nervous system. It also disturbs the brain development of young and unborn children. Mercury also leads to rashes, irritation and other changes to the skin,” he said.
Therefore, he has a list of reminders for the sellers and distributors of the products:
- Sellers and distributors of these cosmetic products must stop selling and distributing the items immediately. The sale and distribution of the mentioned products are against the law under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
- Individuals who are found guilty under the aforementioned law can be fined up to RM25,000 or imprisoned up to 3 years or both (for the first offence) and fined up to RM50,000 or jail time up to 5 years or both (for the offences after that). The companies found guilty for still selling the products risk a fine of up to RM50,000 (for the first offence) and up to RM100,000 (for the offences after that).
Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah would also like to remind consumers:
- Consumers using these cosmetic products are advised to stop using them immediately and seek advice from medical professionals if they are experiencing any discomfort or side effects.
- Consumers are encouraged to check the notification status of a cosmetic product by visiting NPRA’s official website which is https://www.npra.gov.my/index.php/en/.
Here’s what the banned cosmetic products look like:
Source: Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
So, please be super careful the next time you’re buying cosmetic products. Make sure to read the label and check the ingredients to see if there are any harmful chemicals in it.
Keep this in mind, not everything that’s cheap is good for you. Stay safe and shop safe, folks!
Also read: These 2 Cosmetic Products Are Now Banned By MOH for Containing Scheduled Poison
