Cosmetic Products Containing Hydroquinone Are Harmful – FDA Warns

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has warned against the use of cosmetic products which contains hydroquinone.

Speaking at a press briefing in Sunyani on Tuesday, the Head of Cosmetics and Household Chemical Substance Department at the FDA, Mr. Emmanuel Nkrumah stated that the directive on zero percent hydroquinone in cosmetic products came into effect in 2006 (GS 227:2-2006) by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

He divulged that the use of cosmetic products containing hydroquinone can lead to kidney, liver diseases, skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma), skin thinning, exogenous ochronics (Nensuoben), bad body odour, stretch marks, infections—and has also been linked to some cases of diabetes and hypertension.

Mr. Emmanuel Nkrumah explained that such products are being abused and it is now necessary for the authority to eliminate it from the market.

“FDA has not banned hydroquinone…it is not supposed to be in cosmetic products…that’s per the country’s standard. There is the need to put a stop to it due to how it’s abused. It cannot be in cosmetic products, but it can be registered as a medicine,” he clarified.

Restriction of Alcoholic Beverages Advertisements
The Public Relations Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority, Mr. James Lartey stated that the restriction on the timing of the advertisement of alcoholic products is a good public intervention which is aimed at protecting the health of the entire population.

“The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is enforcing the restricted time of the airing advertisements of alcoholic beverages on radio and television, which from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. The enforcement took effect from 1st January 2018.

“The restricted time for the advertisements of alcoholic products, including Live Presenter Mentions (LPMs) on television and radio, is in accordance with the FDA’s guidelines for the Advertisements on Foods (Section 3.2.6),” he stipulated.

“The excessive broadcasting of alcoholic beverage advertisements outside the time allocated as provided for in the FDA’s Food Advertisements Guidelines, is therefore leading to extensive exposure of the product to persons below the legal age of drinking and this would potentially promote excessive drinking among children and the youth,” Mr. James Lartey added.

He therefore called on the media, advertisers, manufactures and importers of alcoholic beverages to adhere to the restricted time.

He further stated that failure to comply with the directive may lead to further regulatory actions being taken against them in pursuance to provisions of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851.