The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has issued a stern warning against the use, sale, and distribution of eight skin whitening cream brands after laboratory analysis revealed the presence of dangerously high levels of mercury.
The national standards body cautioned that these products pose severe health risks, as the detected mercury levels exceed the permissible limit by significant margins.
Under Bangladesh Standard (BDS 1382), the maximum allowable limit for mercury in such cosmetics is set at 1.00ppm.
Laboratory tests conducted on samples collected from the market identified several Pakistan-based products with alarming mercury concentrations, including Due Beauty Cream by Creative Cosmetics at 123.37ppm and Chandni Whitening Cream by SJ Enterprise at 120.39ppm.
Other flagged brands from Pakistan include Noor Whitening Cream by Noor Enterprise at 82.76ppm, Navia Whitening Cream and Navia Beauty Cream by Loia International at 79.70ppm and 59.82ppm respectively, Gauri Beauty Cream by Gauri Cosmetics Pvt Ltd at 56.93ppm, and New Face Beauty Cream by QCI Company at 44.72ppm.
Additionally, Natural Pearl Screen Cream from China’s GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Co Ltd was found to contain 67.49ppm of mercury.
The BSTI noted that these products are not brought into Bangladesh through legal import channels, but instead enter via luggage or smuggling routes, preventing the institution from verifying their quality before they reach store shelves.
BSTI Director General (Secretary) Kazi Emdadul Haque emphasised that there is no scope for compromise where public health is concerned.
He said protecting consumer lives is the agency’s highest priority and warned that strict legal action will be taken against any entity involved in manufacturing, importing, or marketing cosmetics containing hazardous substances.
The regulator has also intensified market surveillance, laboratory analysis, and mobile court operations.
Consumers have been advised to check for BSTI approval and product validity before purchasing cosmetics and to notify the authorities of any suspicious items.
Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to mercury in skin creams can strip away the skin’s natural protection, leading to skin thinning, permanent scarring, and allergies.
More critically, it can result in kidney damage, nervous system disorders, and may impair the healthy development of foetuses in pregnant women.
