Ghana FDA Must Ban These Dangerous Cosmetic Products

I refer to the article by Ben Ofosu-Appiah (Ghanaweb May 4, 2006) in which he complained about dangerous cosmetics and food products in Ghana and the seeming indifference of Ghana FDA in acting to protect the health and safety of Ghanaians. As a cosmetics manufacturer and a competitor to these companies, I have been very much concerned about the chaotic market conditions in Ghana and the influx of both substandard and dangerous cosmetic products in Ghana. I was already in the process of analyzing samples of cosmetic products sent to me from Ghana. It was our intention to gather enough data to convince the Ghana Food and Drug Board to take immediate action to protect the health and safety of the Ghanaian public. We are releasing these interim results with the hope that Ghana Food and Drug Board will do its independent investigations and act in accordance with its mandate to protect the health and safety of the public. Our laboratory analyses indicate these products, which come mostly from the Ivory Coast, contain dangerous levels of hydroquinone:

Product Name	Tested Lot Number	Mfg.  Date	Expiration  Date	Hydroquinone Content	Percentage Over Regulatory Level
Claire PLUS	B/N01		03/08	3.5%	75%
Clair Extra	E124.150.0015	10/05	10/08	3.3%	65%
Cherie Claire Maxi-Tone	D47121	14/11/05	13/11/08	3.5%	75%
G&G Beauty Cream	D49213	14/01/06	13/01/09	3.3%	65%
Peau Claire	1665	02/06	02/08	4.0%	100%
Clair-Liss	Lot:91	02/06	02/08	4.0%	100%
Body Clear Creme	E01.125.0005	01/06	01/09	3.0%	50%
Skin Light	CSL D15	03/3006	03/2009	3.3%	65%
Sivoclair	2133	02/06	02/08	3.6%	80%

Hydroquinone is the most effective skin lightening agent in the world today. However, the USFDA has determined that when people use products containing more than 2% hydroquinone over a long period of time, they develop several skin problems, including all kinds of skin colorations. In Ghana, just as in the United States, the permissible legal limit of hydroquinone in skin creams is 2%. I will be in jail tomorrow if I produce and sell any cream containing the above quantities of hydroquinone in the US. Why are people doing this with impunity in Ghana? I don?t know.

People?s faces and bodies are being mutilated by these dangerous cosmetic products every single passing day. As an immediate protective response, all skin care products originating from the Ivory Coast must be banned now, subject to quality review with both the importers and the manufacturers. The companies should not be allowed to sell in Ghana if they do not have any respect for the laws of Ghana. Also their Ghanaian accomplices, the importers, must be disciplined.

Ghana FDA must act NOW!