Vietnam is set to ban about 22,000 types of cosmetics containing fivederivatives of Paraben that are suspected of causing breast cancer andmale infertility.
The Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper on July 20cited a report by the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAVN) as sayingall the products in question contained five paraben derivatives:isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenylparaben, benzylparaben andpentylparaben.
The ban will take effect on July 30, the report said.
Paraben,a chemical widely used as a preservative in cosmetic and pharmaceuticalproducts, is used to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria thatcould be harmful to humans as well as limit the declining efficiency ofdrugs.
The drug management authority, which functions under theHealth Ministry, also ordered limits on the use of MCT+MIT – a verypopular preservative currently used in cosmetic production.
Itsaid only a very low concentration of 0.0015 should be used in producingdetergent products, but the preservative should not be used incosmetics.
Tien Phong quoted Nguyen Tat Dat, DAVN DeputyDirector, as saying the list of items that have valid licences has beenannounced on the DAVN website.
Dat also said enterprisesviolating the ban would face strict punishments, including cash fines,seizure of products and the revoking of trading licences.
Earlierthis year, the DAVN had called on provincial health departments to helplocal hospitals, health clinics and drug and cosmetics stores to stayupdated on information regarding Paraben.
It also asked drug andcosmetic makers to minimise the use of Paraben in their products,encouraging them to use natural or other non-chemical preservativesinstead.
These moves followed a report by the French newspaperLe Monde that claimed that Paraben was detected in some 400 medicinalproducts, including toothpaste and baby cosmetics, available throughoutFrance. The report caused considerable concern among Vietnameseconsumers.
Previous studies conducted by British and Frenchscientists have suggested that Paraben might be associated with maleinfertility and breast cancer.
Le Van Truyen, a pharmaceuticalexpert, said Paraben has high anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties,so it was used widely in the production of cosmetics.
He toldTien Phong that Paraben could be found in the urine of people whoconsume cosmetics containing the preservative. It could even be found inthe blood of those who used body cream just several hours after use, hesaid.-VNA
The Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper on July 20cited a report by the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAVN) as sayingall the products in question contained five paraben derivatives:isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenylparaben, benzylparaben andpentylparaben.
The ban will take effect on July 30, the report said.
Paraben,a chemical widely used as a preservative in cosmetic and pharmaceuticalproducts, is used to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria thatcould be harmful to humans as well as limit the declining efficiency ofdrugs.
The drug management authority, which functions under theHealth Ministry, also ordered limits on the use of MCT+MIT – a verypopular preservative currently used in cosmetic production.
Itsaid only a very low concentration of 0.0015 should be used in producingdetergent products, but the preservative should not be used incosmetics.
Tien Phong quoted Nguyen Tat Dat, DAVN DeputyDirector, as saying the list of items that have valid licences has beenannounced on the DAVN website.
Dat also said enterprisesviolating the ban would face strict punishments, including cash fines,seizure of products and the revoking of trading licences.
Earlierthis year, the DAVN had called on provincial health departments to helplocal hospitals, health clinics and drug and cosmetics stores to stayupdated on information regarding Paraben.
It also asked drug andcosmetic makers to minimise the use of Paraben in their products,encouraging them to use natural or other non-chemical preservativesinstead.
These moves followed a report by the French newspaperLe Monde that claimed that Paraben was detected in some 400 medicinalproducts, including toothpaste and baby cosmetics, available throughoutFrance. The report caused considerable concern among Vietnameseconsumers.
Previous studies conducted by British and Frenchscientists have suggested that Paraben might be associated with maleinfertility and breast cancer.
Le Van Truyen, a pharmaceuticalexpert, said Paraben has high anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties,so it was used widely in the production of cosmetics.
He toldTien Phong that Paraben could be found in the urine of people whoconsume cosmetics containing the preservative. It could even be found inthe blood of those who used body cream just several hours after use, hesaid.-VNA
