INTERACTIVE: Crackdown on toxic beauty ingredients

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI


PETALING JAYA: Three more chemicals will be added to the list of prohibited substances in beauty products starting Thursday (Nov 21).

 

The move by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) follows a growing number of harmful substances detected by the agency in banned cosmetic items.

 

“Currently, there are three substances on our radar that will be banned starting 21st November 2024,” the NPRA told The Star.

 

The three chemicals are octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4); perboric acid, sodium perborate and boron compounds; and 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde (p-BMHCA).

 

The NPRA which is under the Health Ministry said the three chemicals will be banned due to their carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer), mutagenic (capable of inducing genetic mutation) and reprotoxic (capable of damaging the reproductive process) effect on users.

 

The ministry has revoked the registration of 266 cosmetic products from 2008 to August 2024 due to the presence of prohibited substances.

 



 


 

The NPRA’s data shows banned products containing a rising number of scheduled poisons in recent years.

 

A total of 28 cosmetic products were found to contain scheduled poisons in 2023, a 47.4% increase from the 19 in 2022.

 

In fact, 2019 remains the peak year with 37 products flagged and removed from the market for containing harmful chemicals.

 

From January to August this year, 12 additional products were identified as containing harmful substances.


 


 

The NPRA said the rise in the number of cosmetic items being banned reflects the agency’s intensified efforts to monitor high-risk products under its Post Market Surveillance (PMS) programme.

 

The PMS programme actively tests cosmetics, especially those in high-demand categories like skin-whitening products, eye-area cosmetics, and baby products.

 

“This targeted sampling approach is contributing to the growing number of cases where harmful or banned chemicals are detected.

 

“Additionally, sampling is guided by alerts from other regulatory agencies, consumer complaints, suspicious manufacturers, and misleading cosmetic advertisements,” the agency stated.

 

The NPRA said consumer demand for instant beauty solutions is driving unethical manufacturers to resort to using banned substances.

 

“The natural desire to look better and the promise of quick, visible results, keeps the demand strong.

 

“To meet this demand, certain manufacturers are suspected of including strong, unapproved ingredients that deliver rapid but potentially hazardous results.

 

“Some companies are willing to cut corners, sacrificing safety for profit, which has contributed to the presence of harmful substances in products marketed across Malaysia,” the agency said.

 

The NPRA said a significant number of these problematic products fall under “no-rinse” categories, such as face creams and lotions.

 

Compared to “rinse-off” products like soaps, “no-rinse” items pose greater risks because of prolonged skin exposure, which increases the likelihood of harmful effects on consumers’ skin and health.

 

The NPRA said that mercury, a toxic metal, is the most frequently detected banned substance in sampled products.

 

“Mercury, a known toxic metal, is often used in skin-whitening products for fast results.

 

“Since most of the sampled products were from the skin-whitening category, a higher number of these were found to contain mercury,” the agency said.

 



 

NPRA said some harmful substances are difficult to detect at the initial screening stage, as adulterants often remain undeclared on product labels, bypassing NPRA’s screening system for notified ingredients.

 

However, the substances are identified during post-market testing, where non-compliant products are flagged and pulled from shelves.

 

In addition to surveillance, the NPRA collaborates with regulatory bodies across the Asean region to share information about harmful products through the Asean Post Marketing Alert System (PMAS).

 

The PMAS network ensures that dangerous products flagged in other countries are promptly removed from Malaysian market.

 

“Through PMAS, this information is swiftly disseminated among member states so that proper action can be taken everywhere.

 

The NPRA advised consumers to stay informed about product safety.

 

While the agency regularly alerts the public about banned cosmetics, consumers must remain vigilant, especially with products promising rapid results.

 

Users should question the legitimacy of products with unusually fast-acting effects, as these may contain potent, unsafe chemicals.

 

“Consumers must prioritize their health and safety by choosing reputable brands and checking product statuses before making purchases,” the agency said.

 

ends

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