PETALING JAYA: Five cosmetic products have been found to contain scheduled poison, says the Health Ministry’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the products are: Sweet 13 Skincare Treatment Cream, Ninaskincare Skin Puteh Moisturiser and Skin Dessert Cream, which contain mercury; Karisma Birdnest Gel, which contains hydroquinone and tretinoin; and Haemun Cream, which contains miconazole.
ALSO READ: Health Ministry bans night cream as it contains scheduled poisons
He also urged the public to avoid purchasing these products, which have had their notification status cancelled and are no longer allowed to be sold in Malaysia.
Hydroquinone can cause skin redness, discomfort, discolouration and hypersensitivity.
It can also inhibit the pigmentation process (depigmentation), which reduces the skin’s ability to be protected from harmful UV rays, increasing the risk of skin cancer.
“Mercury is prohibited in cosmetic products as it could be harmful to one’s health," Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 23).
"It could be absorbed into the body and cause damage to the kidneys and nervous system, as well as disrupt brain development of young or unborn children, besides causing rashes, irritation and other changes to the skin.
ALSO READ: Momila Beauty Whitening Cream banned for containing mercury
“Uncontrolled usage of antifungals (miconazole) can increase the risk of resistance and thus reduce their effectiveness in treating future infections."
He also warned all sellers and distributors to stop carrying the products as they violated the Control Of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
"Individuals (found guilty of violating) the regulations can be fined up to RM25,000 or face a maximum of three years imprisonment, or both, for the first offence and fined not more than RM50,000 or jailed up to five years, or both, for subsequent offences.
ALSO READ: Four beauty products no longer allowed to be sold in Malaysia
"Companies that commit such an offence could be fined up to RM50,000 the first time and RM100,000 for subsequent offences,” he added.
He advised anyone who has been using these products to stop immediately and seek advice from health professionals if they experience any discomfort or adverse effects.
The notification status of cosmetic products can be checked at NPRA’s official website www.npra.gov.my or through the “NPRA Product Status” application that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
