The Chinese cosmetics industry is still being plagued by
microbial contamination and the presence of excessive heavy
metallic elements in its products, warned the Ministry of Health on
Thursday.
The results of an inspection launched in 16 provinces and
cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, showed that 5.6
percent of 824 products on sale were found to contain excessive
amounts of heavy metals, such as mercury, and displayed evidence of
microbial contamination.
However, the quality of whitening cosmetics, children's
cosmetics and facial masks have, in general, improved, said the
ministry in a statement.
Last month, the ministry announced that a new regulation on
cosmetics production would take effect from July 1.
The regulation will double the number of banned cosmetics,
bringing the total to 1,286.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)