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CONTAMINATED TALCUM POWDERS and face paints, and heavy metals in make-up and children’s products are among the health and safety breaches of cosmetics sold in Ireland last year.
The report showed that the”largest areas of non-compliance included microbial contamination of talcum powders and face paints, heavy metals in make-up and children’s products, phenol in henna products and the presence of kojic acid not declared on the labelling of some skincare creams”.
Tomsickova Tatyana via Shutterstock
Tomsickova Tatyana via Shutterstock
The investigation looked at quality related complaints (called “compliance cases”), reports of adverse events relating to the use of cosmetics (called “vigilance cases”) and serious risk alerts.
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The rate of how complaints are reported and investigated. HPRA Annual Report 2016HPRA Annual Report 2016
Of the 163 compliance cases opened, 150 involved cosmetic products that were deemed to be non-compliant with EU regulations, which would be more stringent than US regulations.
According to the report, the majority of non-compliance cases were in the areas of labelling, the presence of prohibited substances, contamination (mainly microbiological or heavy metals) and unsupported efficacy claims.
There were five withdrawals from the Irish market as a result of non-compliances due to issues such as microbiological contamination, counterfeiting and labelling issues.
During the year, 13 vigilance cases were investigated. These related to hair products, creams, lotions, make-up products and others.
A total of 110 cases classed as “serious risk alerts” were received from other European member states regarding non-compliant cosmetic products.
Five of these products were found on the Irish market and removed from sale.
Have you had a bad reaction with cosmetics bought in Ireland? Get in touch to share your story.
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They say time is of the essence but unfortunately by the time you make the call and the length of time the ambulance arrives the damage is done, also if you arrive in A&E with a stroke victim your told to wait for them to be assessed, I’m speaking from personal experience, it all sounds good but unfortunately that’s not what happens.
@Nan: I’d say if in doubt, dial 999 & if it saves a few people, everyone’s done the right thing. What sometimes happens is that A has a stroke and insists he is fine, then B rings friends to wonder what to do for the best. What I got from the article is not to delay, ring paramedics before anything else.
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