{"id":119108,"date":"2025-11-07T13:20:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T12:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=119108"},"modified":"2025-11-07T16:23:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T15:23:57","slug":"exposed-uncontrolled-biogas-expansion-funded-by-public-purse-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/cop6-minamata-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Cops Called on to Investigate Illegal Production and Trade of Toxic Skin Lighteners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geneva, Switzerland\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 In a landmark decision, today the Sixth Conference of the Parties\u00a0(COP-6)\u00a0of the Minamata Convention invited the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to work with Interpol, the World Customs\u00a0Organisation\u00a0and others\u00a0to investigate the manufacture, import and export of mercury-added cosmetics.\u00a0COP-6\u00a0also\u00a0decided to work towards closing the loopholes\u00a0legally allowing\u00a0mercury\u00a0compounds to be traded, as this\u00a0is\u00a0compromising\u00a0the\u00a0Convention\u2019s objective, particularly related to lacing cosmetics with mercury.<\/p>\n

Elena Lymberidi-Settimo<\/strong>, Senior Advisor on Mercury at the European Environmental Bureau\u00a0and International Co-coordinator of the ZMWG, said:\u00a0\u201cThis decision clearly acknowledges that tackling the illegal trade in mercury-added cosmetics requires a coordinated, networked approach. This call for international collaboration is a critical step toward enforcing the Convention and reducing the global circulation of these hazardous products.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Minamata Convention has prohibited mercury in cosmetics, allowing up to 1 ppm until 2021 and banning it entirely by the end\u00a0of 2025.\u00a0Despite known health risks, manufacturers add mercury compounds into their formulations of creams to lighten the skin. Then distributors and retailers, including online platforms, profit from poisoning people around the globe by intentionally not listing the hazards or any other consumer precautions.<\/p>\n

Michael Bender<\/strong>, International Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group, said: \u201cThis represents a major milestone in our multi-year\u00a0effort to\u00a0stop\u00a0the\u00a0illegal\u00a0production and trade in mercury-added skin lighteners. For far too long, unscrupulous manufacturers have been supplying unsuspecting consumers, increasingly through online markets such as Amazon, under the guise of legitimate commerce.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In\u00a02024\u00a0and earlier\u00a0in\u00a02025, ZMWG and its partners in the U.S., EU, India, Mexico,\u00a0Philippines, Pakistan,\u00a0Kenya\u00a0and the UAE\u00a0purchased\u00a0suspect skin lighteners in their respective countries.\u00a0The results, presented in two studies, revealed\u00a0that\u00a0of the\u00a068\u00a0suspect creams,\u00a060\u00a0contained\u00a0mercury, with an\u00a0average mercury concentration recorded via lab testing\u00a0of more than\u00a010,000\u00a0ppm.<\/p>\n

While progress is being made, much more needs to be done to protect people from\u00a0being poisoned\u00a0by toxic creams\u00a0containing\u00a0the dangerous\u00a0neurotoxin, mercury.<\/p>\n

For example, following a recent settlement in the U.S., Amazon has implemented a new protective approach requiring third-party sellers to first test their creams for mercury and other hazards before they can post products for sale.\u00a0\u00a0However, outside the U.S.\u00a0it appears that Amazon\u00a0is not sufficiently motivated to block illegal sales, particularly into the global south.<\/p>\n

In a second example, the Competition\u00a0Commission\u00a0of Pakistan recently announced enforcement actions targeting domestic manufacturers\u00a0of mercury-added cosmetics, yet we are still awaiting confirmation.<\/p>\n

Mercury and mercury compounds lighten the skin by suppressing the production of melanin and can remove age spots, freckles,\u00a0blemishes\u00a0and wrinkles. According to multiple studies, the use of hazardous Hg\/SWCs often results in adverse health effects as it may lead to rashes, skin\u00a0discolouration\u00a0and blotching.\u00a0\u00a0Long-term use may damage the eyes, lungs, kidneys, and digestive and immune systems.<\/p>\n

\/\/ENDS<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/strong>\u00a0Zero Mercury Working Group<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Zero Mercury Working Group\u00a0is an international coalition of more than 110 public interest environmental and health non-governmental organisations from over 55 countries around the world, formed in 2005 and coordinated by the European Environmental Bureau and the Mercury Policy Project.<\/p>\n

ZMWG partners included Toxics Link in India; Ban Toxics in the Philippines, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Pakistan, CEJAD in Kenya, the European Environmental Bureau in France and Belgium; the Mercury Policy Project in the U.S.; Casacem in Mexico and an individual collaborator in the United Arab Emirates.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n