EcoWaste Coalition Detects Mercury on 8 Cosmetics Sold by Indonesian Online Sellers
(Poison comes in small and poorly labeled packages, the group warns)
31 May 2025, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition again urged e-commerce sites to rid their platforms of dangerous skin lighteners contaminated with mercury, a highly toxic chemical prohibited for use as an ingredient in cosmetic products.
The group repeated its call following the discovery of mercury in eight out of 11 skin lightening cosmetics obtained from Indonesia-based online sellers for P65 to P121 each.
“Our investigation shows that poison comes in small and poorly labeled packages with no market authorization,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition, noting the levels of mercury adulteration of the analyzed unregistered products in petite containers with incomplete and incomprehensible to zero labeling information. “Consumers should be cautious of these red flags,” she said, stressing that “the easiest way to protect ourselves from such poisonous cosmetics is to embrace our natural skin tone and refrain from using skin whitening products.”
“Administrators of e-commerce and social media sites need to act decisively to stop the use of their platforms to advertise and peddle hazardous cosmetics with mercury,” Lucero pointed out. “Regulators need to flex their muscles to put an end to this toxic trade, and uphold the health and safety of the people and the environment.”
With the aid of a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the EcoWaste Coalition detected mercury ranging from 384 to 7,043 parts per million (ppm) in eight of the products in clear violation of the mercury ban under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, as well as the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Temulawak Beauty Whitening Cream (night cream) was found to contain 7,043 ppm of mercury; SP Herbal Mint Day/Night with 2,222 ppm; SP UV Special Ginseng Whitening & Anti-Acne 1,804 ppm; New Special 99 Whitening Cream 889 ppm; Temulawak Beauty Whitening Cream (day & night cream) 648 ppm; unlabeled product (white cream) 600 ppm; L-Sky Glow 564 ppm; and another unlabeled product (yellow cream) with 384 ppm.
This is not the first time that the EcoWaste Coalition found mercury in skin lightening cosmetics purchased from online dealers in Indonesia. Last year, the group bought and analyzed Dr. Gold Super Quality +SPF30; Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream; La Bella Day Cream; and La Bella Night Cream and found them adulterated with mercury. In response to the report filed by the group, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued public health warnings against the purchase and use of the said products.
According to health experts, the application of mercury-laden skin lightening products could lead to blotching, discoloration and rashes. Chronic exposure to mercury can damage the renal, digestive and nervous systems, as mercury can be absorbed through the skin. In severe cases, kidney failure can occur. Symptoms may manifest as numbness, hand tremors, insomnia, irritability, loss of memory, hearing and vision impairment, and alterations in taste.
While negative for mercury, the safety of the three other products (Cream Ketiak, Cream Leher and Herbal Plus Day & Night Cream) from other forms of contamination that can also endanger human health cannot be ascertained.
Lee Bell, Technical and Policy Advisor of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), which includes the EcoWaste Coalition, said: “The use of mercury in cosmetics exposes our communities to immediate health risks and such products must be eliminated from all sales platforms. The most efficient way to shut down online sales of these dangerous products is to take a regional approach to regulation and enforcement with bilateral and multilateral cooperation by customs officials in the ASEAN region.”
“Prohibition of elemental mercury imports in ASEAN countries will deny rogue producers of mercury-added cosmetics their raw materials and banning exports and sales of such cosmetics will close the loop. Clearly current enforcement activities are insufficient to stop the flow of these products and the time is right to coordinate enforcement on a multilateral basis, share intelligence about this illegal trade and shut it down permanently,” he emphasized.
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FDA-Advisory-No.2024-1347.pdf
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FDA-Advisory-No.2024-1334.pdf
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https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-CED-PHE-EPE-19.13
