The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) today (June 12) urged members of the public to stop using three cosmetic cream products to safeguard their health.
Their Chinese names are: "戭??墧坾蝝?蟡?1??(蟡?2??"; "?罸??????亦鍂)" and "蝢蒾鋡芣???憭鍂)" of the "?啣?暻堒??亦?7憭拍鸌?◥????憟?"; as well as "?寞?蝢蒾鋡芣?A?? and "?寞?蝢蒾鋡芣?B?? of "?啣?暻堒??亦?7憭拍鸌???質◥?飊B憟?
Following the appeal by the Department of Health (DH) on June 8 and 9 advising the public to stop using a cosmetic cream product, C&ED seized from six spots in Hong Kong a batch of cosmetic cream products. The seizure was sent to Government Chemist for testing.
Detailed test results from Government Chemist are attached.
The test results on some of the seizure showed that the mercury contents detected ranged from 3800 parts per million (ppm) to 13000 ppm.
The tolerable limit of mercury content stipulated in the "Hygienic Standards for Cosmetics" of the National Standard of People's Republic of China is 1 ppm.
A DH spokesman said mercury poisoning is an illness that is caused by overdose of mercury in the body. Mercury causes damage mainly to the nervous systems and kidney. Symptoms may include tremor, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, difficulty with concentrating, impaired hearing and vision or change in taste. In most severe cases, renal failure may occur.
Anyone who has used all or one of the products should call DH hotline 2125 1133 for health advice. The hotline operates between 9am and 5pm daily to answer public enquiries.
Under the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import into Hong Kong consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirement for consumer goods.
The maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $100,000 and an imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and two years' imprisonment on subsequent conviction.
To report unsafe consumer goods, consumers can write to the Consumer Protection and Prosecution Bureau, Customs and Excise Department on the 11th floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point or call the Customs hotline at 2545 6182.
End/Tuesday, June 12, 2007
