The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday issued a public warning regarding two cosmetic products found to contain undeclared, scheduled poisons, as identified under the Poisons Act.
The products – Skin Magical Orange Cucumber Rejuvenating Kit Premium – Premium Rejuvenating Facial Toner; and Skin Magical Orange Cucumber Rejuvenating Kit Premium – Premium Rejuvenating Cream, both made in the Philippines – were tested by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Division under the Department of Scientific Services and found to be adulterated with hydroquinone and tretinoin.
According to the MoH, these substances are classified as prescription-only medicines used to treat certain skin conditions and are strictly prohibited in cosmetic skincare products under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations.
Any unsupervised use of hydroquinone can lead to serious side effects such as skin hypersensitivity, skin discolouration that results in gradual darkening, and a heightened risk of skin cancer.
Tretinoin, when used inappropriately, may cause redness, peeling, and permanent scarring of the skin.
The ministry has not issued any approval for the importation for the sale and/or cosmetic notification acknowledgement letter for the sale of the affected products.
As a result of these findings, the sale and import of the mentioned products are strictly prohibited in Brunei Darussalam.
Members of the public who have purchased or used these products are advised to stop using them immediately.
Those experiencing adverse reactions should seek medical attention without delay.
Retailing these products – including through online platforms such as Facebook – is an offence under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007.
The offenders, upon conviction, may face a fine of up to BND 5,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
The MoH urged the public to report any sightings or continued sale of these products to the Compliance and Licensing Division for further investigation and enforcement. – James Kon
