Group lauds Quezon City’s action vs hazardous health products

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog Eco­Waste Coalition has commended the Quezon City government for strict inspection of business establishments to curb the sale of unregistered health products, including cosmetics contaminated with mercury.

EcoWaste lauded the city health department headed by officer-in-charge doctor Esperanza Anita Escaño-Arias for ordering the local Food and Drug Regulation Officers (FDROs) to inspect stalls, including those in malls, selling health supplements, medicines and cosmetics.

“We laud the Quezon City government for monitoring business compliance with product safety laws and for confiscating items that may endanger the health of consumers,” EcoWaste national coordinator Aileen Lucero said in a statement.

“Sustained market surveillance and enforcement will help in stopping the circulation of unregistered and unsafe health products in the market,” Lucero added.

In line with the mission orders signed by Arias, the FDROs recently inspected cosmetic and food supplement stores in Quezon City.

The inspections were carried out to check the stores’ compliance with Republic Act 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Law, RA 10918 or the Philippine Pharmacy Act, RA 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines as well as Ordinance 2767-2018, which bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of mercury-containing skin whitening products.

EcoWaste also lauded the FDROs for packing, sealing and countersigning the confiscated health products.

Last month, EcoWaste wrote to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to report the sale of mercury-laden skin whitening products in at least 10 stores in the city.

“We hope that other local authorities will take their cue from Quezon City and conduct law enforcement operations to protect consumers from unregistered health products such as cosmetics contaminated with mercury,” Lucero said.