The sweet smell of excess

• Source: Global Times
• [16:42 July 20 2010]
• Comments

Safety inspections

Despite the developments in the US, Zeigler said he felt confident in the stringency of the safety inspections carried out by the central State Food and Drug Administration (SDFA) in Beijing.

"By the time the products gets to our consumers here, with the regulations that China has in place we feel very confident there is no problem," said Zeigler. "Basically what happens when you want to import a brand, the brand itself has to go for testing. It's a very vigorous test and then they do batch tests on every shipment to make sure that what you got the first time is what you're continuing to get. So it's an ongoing process."

Cosmetic goods imported directly into Shanghai are checked by the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

Every day imported cosmetic goods are checked for harmful microorganisms and toxic materials such as mercury, Wang Zhenyu from the bureau's food safety supervision division told the Global Times.

"Evidence of harmful chemicals has been found in about 0.1 percent of cosmetic goods in the testing process and subsequently banned," said Wang.

Cosmetics companies then have to make a decision whether to immediately dispose of the product or have it shipped back to its country of origin.

From June 17 this year, the SDFA require cosmetic companies to supply a Chinese product label listing the ingredients before it is allowed into local markets. The authority also announced the application requirements for fragrances in cosmetic formulations earlier this month.

Wang said the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau would not be able to react to the discovery of the chemicals by the US environmental groups until the US authorities officially put out a list on harmful chemicals and notified the SDFA.

According to the lab report commissioned by US environmental groups, 66 percent of these unlisted chemicals had been not been tested by the US fragrance industry or the US authorities for safety.

Consumer reaction

"I feel it's very dangerous," Shanghai-born Zhang Jiyue told the Global Times.

Zhang, 28, said she would think twice before applying her Gucci and Ralph Lauren perfumes. "I must be responsible for my health."

But another consumer Wu Junfang, said toxic chemicals in perfumes were the least of her concerns compared to other health risks. "I don't really care. Everyday you hear something bad on the news. Someone said there is tobacco in tomatoes."

Wu, 25, said she still plans to buy and use her Prada, YSL and Chanel brand perfumes. "Everything to a certain extent is bad for you. I smoke, for example."

Violeta Baroudi, whose father is a chemist, said she somewhat reluctantly accepts the secrecy surrounding the fragrance blends, despite the risk to her health.

"It's normal that cosmetic companies will never tell you all the chemicals in their products. That's why they sell. Of course now I know about the chemicals I am starting to see things differently."