Kanebo, one of the largest cosmetic giants in Japan, has announced on 4 July that 8 sub-brands covering 54 skin-whitening products containing the ingredient “Rhododendrol” will be recalled across Asia, for being suspected with causing discoloration. Chinese market is not one of the targets for it is a "new" ingredient and has not been registered with China Food and Drug Administration.
Currently, some consumers in Japan suffer the adverse effect and file complaints that they have white patches on their skin after using the skin-brightening products.
One of the ingredients called Rhododendrol, or 4HPB, a synthetic version of a natural compound developed by Kanebo, is suspected to be the main cause of the skin discoloration. In order to alleviate consumers’ panic, Kanebo is now voluntarily withdrawing 8 sub-brands, including Kanebo BLANCHIR SUPERIOR, Impress, suisai, TWANY, AQUALEAF, LISSAGE, RMK and SUQQU from the Asian market, including China Taiwan, China Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam. However, whether it is the Rhododendrol that induces the problem needs to be further investigated.
The afore-mentioned three brands, Kanebo BLANCHIR SUPERIOR, Impress and suisai, have their products sold in China but none of them use “Rhododendrol”, because it is deemed as a new cosmetic ingredient in China which must get approval from CFDA before being applied in the final cosmetic products. Based on the statement of Kanebo, the new cosmetic ingredient application has been submitted to CFDA. On 5 July, CFDA clarified on its website that Rhododendrol failed the technical review conducted by CFDA's expert panel.