The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday issued a warning to the public regarding a cosmetic product found to be adulterated with an undeclared and scheduled poison listed in the Poisons Act.
The product, Baby Shine 3 in 1 – Treatment Night Cream, manufactured by Buatan Malaysia, has been adulterated with Hydroquinone, following testing by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Department of Scientific Services at MoH.
Hydroquinone is used in western prescription medicines to treat skin conditions and is prohibited in skincare cosmetic products under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations.
Unsupervised use of Hydroquinone may cause skin hypersensitivity, skin discolouration resulting in gradual darkening of the affected skin area and an increased risk of skin cancer.
The ministry has not issued approval for the importation for the sale of the product and/or Cosmetic Notification Acknowledgement Letter for the sale of the affected products. Following the findings, the product is not allowed to be imported and sold in Brunei Darussalam. The public is advised to stop using the product immediately and consult a medical practitioner if they experience any adverse reactions or feel unwell after using the product.
“Selling this product, including through online platforms such as Facebook, constitutes an offence under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007. Those found guilty may face a fine not exceeding BND5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also urged the public to report any instances of the product being sold in Brunei Darussalam by contacting the Compliance and Licensing Section at 2393301 extension 208, emailing pharmacy.enforcement@moh.gov.bn, or visiting the Compliance and Licensing Section at the 1st Floor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Services’ Building in Kampong Madaras, Mukim Gadong ‘A’. Reports can also be made by calling Talian Darussalam at 123.
