Hong Kong Customs Seizes Three Unsafe Whitening Moisturizers

Recently, Hong Kong Customs received a referral regarding a case of mercury poisoning where a consumer using a whitening moisturizer. Tests revealed that this moisturizer contained 23,000 ppm of mercury. Following this, Customs discovered that two other whitening moisturizers from the same brand had mercury levels reaching 24,000 ppm. Additionally, the packaging for all three products included warnings only in English, with no Chinese warnings or cautions. ¹

The Hong Kong Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Ordinance) and Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (Regulation) mandates the following:

2) Labeling Requirements: Consumer goods and their packaging must feature warnings or cautions about safe storage, use, consumption, or disposal in both Chinese and English. These warnings must be clearly readable and prominently displayed on the product, packaging, or any attached label or document. Products lacking dual-language warnings are considered in violation of the Regulation.

Enforcement Actions

Customs immediately deployed enforcement actions and sent officers to a relevant retail store in Central District for investigation. A total of 352 boxes of the three whitening moisturizers were seized in the store, and a 40-year-old male manager and a 45-year-old female salesperson were arrested. The case is currently under investigation.

Customs has issued a prohibition notice to the retail store, prohibiting the store from continuing to sell the three whitening moisturizers, and issued a notice to call on the public to stop using the three whitening moisturizers.

Further Reading

• China Hong Kong Cosmetic Regulation

• Hong Kong to Ban CBD Products in February 2023