Cheap Cosmetics Risk
An investigation of cosmetic products found at the cheaper end of the market has revealed some worrying results.
Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service worked with the Central England Trading Standards Authorities Partnership (CEnTSA) to examine the safety of imported cosmetics.
Poor labelling, a lack of information and inaccurate claims were the main problems encountered by Trading Standards Officers.
Two products were found to be unsafe. A nail varnish contained a substance, benzyl butyl phthalate, known to be toxic for reproduction, that may cause harm to the developing foetus and may impair fertility.
A skin lightening body lotion that contained Hydroquinone which is a category 3 mutagen, a category 3 carcinogen and a potential skin sensitizer.
Twenty four cosmetic products were tested in all. Alarmingly, more than half failed the Cosmetic Products Safety Regulations 2004, in varying degrees:
Trading Standards officers purchased the cosmetics from cheaper retail outlets and market stalls across the Midlands region. Many were foreign imports. Items sampled included: children’s toy makeup, free cosmetic gifts attached to children’s comics, skin lightening creams, face soaps, hair gel, glitter powder, lipsticks, body lotions, lip-gloss, nail polish and removers, skin whiteners, deodorant products containing some form of sun protection and men’s face creams.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service said:
“The test results were disappointing. Trading Standards would always advise consumers to buy from reputable outlets and ensure that they have sufficient information about the product to be able to use it safely. Consumers need to know about potential hazards. “
Trading Standards are currently pursuing enforcement action, for example 508 bottles of nail varnish have been seized from one market trader who had been supplied by wholesalers in the Midlands area.
Additionally importers are being visited and offered advice regarding the supply of foreign imports, and their responsibilities to consumers, including their product liability implications.
Trading Standards are advising smaller retailers to ensure they buy from reputable wholesalers and importers and to check the dates and origins of cosmetics.