China's quality watchdog has urged local branches to increase
the supervision of cosmetics and food products imported from Japan
after a series of quality problems.
According to the General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, quality authorities in south China's Guangdong Province found chromium and
neodymium, which are prohibited for use in cosmetics in China, in
SK-II products made by Procter and Gamble (Japan).
The Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau found
4.5 mg/kg of neodymium in one SK-II product. It also found traces
of between 0.77 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg of chromium in other SK-II
items.
According to China's Regulations on Hygienic Standards for
Cosmetics (GB1976), cosmetics should not contain chromium or
neodymium.
Experts said chromium can cause skin diseases such as allergic
dermatitis and eczema, which?are very hard to cure. Neodymium
can cause eye irritations and mucosa. If inhaled, the substance can
damage the lungs and liver.
Europe has also banned these two elements as cosmetics
ingredients, according to the administration.
In another development, the administration issued warnings
against food products imported from Japan after several items were
found to contain excessive amounts of chemicals.
The administration said they have found quality problems in more
than 30 batches of food products imported from Japan since
June.
Authorities in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, found excessive
sorbic acid in fish sticks, reaching the level of 1.3g /kg, 17.3
times the nation's safety limit.
Similar findings were made in salted carrots from Kyushu.
(China Daily September 15, 2006)