NBR bans import of skin lightening products
Staff Reporter :
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) instructed all the customs stations to take necessary steps to prevent illegal import of sub-standard and harmful skin whitening products including creams and lotions.
The revenue board takes the initiatives in the wake of a request from the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI).
For stopping the illegal import of banned and harmful skin lightening creams, the NBR has sent letters to the commissioners of the Customs Houses Dhaka, Chittagong, Benapole, ICD (Kamalapur, Mongla and Pangaon).
The letters have also been sent to Commissioners of Customs, Excise and VAT Dhaka North and West, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Jashore, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur and Cumilla, according to the NBR sources.
In the letter, the customs authority said the BSTI requested the NBR to take necessary measures to prevent the illegal entry of the banned mercury and hydroquinone-containing bleaching screen creams and substandard skin lotions into the country through various land and air ports.
Following this, the NBR has given instructions to take necessary measures so that the prohibited harmful products cannot enter the country illegally through various land and airports, it said.
Earlier, the BSTI banned 17 skin lightening creams containing harmful levels of mercury and hydroquinone.
Of the brands, 14 are Pakistani beauty products, 1 Chinese brand, 1 locally produced and another unknown.
The face creams contain excessive mercury and hydroquinone; at least 100 times higher than the permissible level and can cause numerous skin diseases if one applies them for a long time, warned the government institution in a notification issued in July last year.
The BSTI collected several samples of beauty creams from markets and tested them at their laboratory and it found 17 of the products contained a higher level of harmful chemicals and subsequently banned their import, distribution, marketing and sales in the country.
Previously, BSTI set the standard at a maximum 1 ppm of mercury concentration, and less than 5 ppm of hydroquinone.
The 17 brands containing dangerous levels of mercury are – Goree Whitening Cream (102.92ppm), Chandni Whitening Cream (209.91ppm), New Face Whitening Cream (216.69ppm), Due Cream (133.50ppm), Golden Pearl Cream (124.28ppm), Faiza Cream (183.39ppm), Noor Herbal Beauty Cream (222.21ppm), Noor Herbal Gold Cream (143.60ppm), White Pearl plus Whitening Cream (201.99ppm), Pax Whitening Cream (219.13ppm), Fresh and White Whitening Cream (62.68ppm), Face lift Whitening Cream (190.50ppm), Face fresh Whitening Cream (201.40 ppm), Chinese Dr Rashel (Night) Cream (65.44ppm), 4k Plus Whitening Cream (40.60ppm), Aneeza Gold Whitening Cream (192.30ppm), and Gold Whitening Cream (88.70ppm).
Among these, two products have over 5 ppm of hydroquinone – Pakistani Aneeza Gold Whitening Cream (30.25ppm) and locally produced Gold Whitening Cream (8.20ppm).
The BSTI urged the concerned individuals to take actions against the prevalent use of such harmful beauty products.
Mercury has long been used in skin whitening products due to its ability to block the production of melanin in the skin — the pigment that gives color to skin. It is extremely toxic to health at high levels and can impact the body in various ways.
Mercury-laden cosmetics are restricted in most countries due to its toxic effects.
