PUTRAJAYA, 22 Dec 2017:
The Health Ministry has advised the public to stop using four cosmetic products – which were detected to contain scheduled poisons of mercury, hydroquinone and tretinoin – and get immediate medical check-up if they experience any discomfort.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said both Progressive Mix Industries products – Nuriz Shoppe-Uv Pearl Cream and Nuriz-D’Solve – were detected to contain mercury.
The Aura Gorgeous Beauty & Healthy’s product of Aura Gorgeous Night Cream was also detected to contain mercury, while Nouvelle Beauty Centre Sdn Bhd’s product namely NV Anti Blemish Toner 1 contained hydroquinone and tretinoin.
He warned sellers and distributors to immediately halt the sale and supply of these products.
“The sale and distribution of the cosmetic products are violating the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Noor Hisham said any individual who committed the offence is liable to a maximum RM25,000 fine or prison sentence of up to three years or both for the first offence, and a maximum RM50,000 fine or prison sentence of up to five years or both for the subsequent offence.
Any company which commits the offence is liable to a maximum RM50,000 fine for the first offence and maximum of RM100,000 for the subsequent offence.
Products containing hydroquinone and tretinoin were classified as pharmaceutical products that required registration with the Drug Control Authority and could only be used under the advice of healthcare professionals, he said.
He said exposure to mercury could cause damage to kidneys and the nervous system, and it may also interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children.
Consumers are advised to contact the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency at [email protected] or 03-78835400 for any inquiry.
They are also advised to check the notification status of cosmetic products at http://npra.moh.gov.my/
– Bernama