Brunei MoH Uncovers 13 Cosmetics Adulterated with Illegal Ingredients

Takehome: Cosmetics tainted with Mercury, Hydroquinone and Tretinoin are prohibited to be imported and sold in Brunei.

According to public alerts from Brunei Ministry of Health, 13 cosmetic products have failed safety testing conducted by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Department of Scientific Services of the Ministry of Health during post-market inspections conducted in July and early August. Reasons for inspection failures rest with illegal addition of toxic ingredients of manufacturers. The details are listed below:

As stipulated in the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007, Mercury, Hydroquinone and Tretinoin are prohibited in cosmetics on account of their potential hazards to consumers' health.

• Prolonged use of Mercury can cause skin rashes, memory loss and muscle weakness and high exposures may damage brain and kidneys.
• Unsupervised use of Hydroquinone may cause skin hypersensitivity, skin discolouration resulting in gradual darkening of the affected skin area and an increased risk of skin cancer.
• Inappropriate use of Tretinoin will lead to skin redness, peeling and scarring.

Currently cosmetic products adulterated with Mercury, Hydroquinone and Tretinoin are not allowed to be imported or sold (including online retail through social media such as Facebook, etc.) in Brunei, as no import approval or Cosmetic Product Notification Acknowledgement Letter has been issued. Stakeholders contravening these regulations are subject to a fine of up to $ 5000 or imprisonment of up to 2 years or both.