Stop sale of mercury-laden cosmetics, Thailand FDA urged  

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental groups led by EcoWaste Coalition are set to deliver a formal letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Thailand today to demand a stop to the unlawful production and trade in the Philippines of cosmetics contaminated with mercury, a toxic substance.

In a joint letter, EcoWaste, Ecological Alert and Recovery-Thailand (EARTH), Foundation for Consumers (FFC) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network-Southeast and East Asia (IPEN-SEA) said at least 14 Thailand-made skincare cosmetics with high levels of mercury are being sold in the Philippines through online and physical stores.

“To protect women, children and other vulnerable populations against multiple health problems, we appeal to the FDA Thailand to conduct an in-depth investigation on the continued production of mercury-laden cosmetics and their sale abroad, particularly in the Philippines,” the letter read.

The letter was signed by EcoWaste national coordinator Aileen Lucero, EARTH executive director Penchom Saetang, FFC director Kochanuch Saengthalaeng and IPEN-SEA regional coordinator Chinkie Peliño-Golle.

The letter was addressed to FDA Thailand secretary general Paisarn Dunkum and Thailand’s Bureau of Cosmetics and Hazardous Substances Control director Supawadee Teerawatsakul.

The groups said their “historic outreach” to Thai cosmetic regulators stemmed from EcoWaste’s discovery of high mercury levels in 12 facial and two underarm whitening creams sold in the Philippines.