KUCHING: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned the public against buying and using two types of cosmetic products as they contain mercury.
The products are Karisma Turmeric Booster Cream and Flashskinzz Treatment Cream.
They will no longer be sold in Malaysia.
“Sellers and distributors of these cosmetic products need to stop selling and distributing these cosmetic products immediately.
“The sale and distribution of these cosmetic products are in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Control Regulations 1984,” the ministry said in a statement.
Individuals who continue to sell the two products will be fined up to RM25,000 or jailed up to three years or both for the first offence and a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both for subsequent offences.
And companies that commit the offences can be fined up to RM50,000 for the first offence and up to RM100,000 for subsequent offences.
Mercury is prohibited in cosmetic products because it can damage the kidneys and nervous system.
It also interferes with the brain development of young or unborn children.
For more information, the public can check with the ministry’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) official website at www.npra.gov.my or through the ‘NPRA Product Status’ application which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
