Zero Out Toxic Production: End the Unscrupulous Manufacturing of Mercury Added Skin Whiteners

This report builds upon previous work of the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) in exposing the toxic and often illegal international trade in mercury added skin-lightening products. It underlines once again the importance of regulating and adequately monitoring the manufacturers of these products.

The ZMWG recently purchased – in four different countries, representing four regions– six widely available brands of skin-whitening cream (SWC) manufactured in Pakistan, as per the labelling on their packaging. All of these creams had been identified by various governments as containing mercury. The ZMWG testing demonstrated that, of the 37 cosmetics samples purchased, only two contained less than 1 part per million (ppm) of mercury, confirming that mercury-added SWCs (Hg/SWCs) continue to be produced and exported despite global bans, putting millions of consumers and the environment at risk. Using Pakistan as a case study, these findings highlight the urgent need for stronger enforcement, decisive action from manufacturers, and international cooperation to eliminate the production of these toxic products at their source.