Watchdog group decries nonstop sale of poisonous cosmetics online
8 July 2026, Quezon City. Even though Republic Act No. 11967 (the Internet Transactions Act) took full effect on June 20, e-commerce and social media platforms are still inundated with listings for mercury-contaminated imported skin lighteners, including those already flagged by health regulators and advocacy groups.
A recent monitoring initiative for the 7.7 online sales by the EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for environmental, health, and consumer rights, revealed that e-retailers are still openly selling banned, mercury-laced skin lighteners as if they were legal. The ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibit mercury use in cosmetics.
Boxes of contraband Goree skin-lightening facial creams from Pakistan are posted on the Facebook pages of local distributors as if these products are legal to import and sell.
In just over an hour, the group tracked over 300 product listings and promotional spiels for imported skin-lightening products, many of which have already been flagged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for being sold without prior market authorization and/or for containing mercury above the one part per million (ppm) trace amount limit for mercury as a heavy metal contaminant under the ACD.
Among the FDA-flagged products notoriously sold with special offers and discounts are contraband Goree Beauty Cream from Pakistan, which comes in five variants: Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene (Advisory No. 2017-289 ), Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream (Advisory No. 2017-289 ), Goree 24K Gold Beauty Cream (Advisory No. 2023-2392), Goree 4 in 1 Beauty Kit (Advisory No. 2025-1356), and Goree 24K Gold 3 in 1 Beauty Kit (Advisory No. 2025-1362).
“We decry the impunity for the illegal importation, distribution, promotion and sale of dangerous cosmetics loaded with high levels of mercury that will classify them as hazardous waste,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
Under the Minamata Convention, the threshold limit for waste contaminated with mercury is 15 ppm. Contraband skin-lightening products frequently exceed this limit, with many unauthorized products containing mercury up to 10,000 ppm or more. These extremely high mercury levels will classify such cosmetics as hazardous waste rather than typical consumer goods, the EcoWaste Coalition said.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits mercury-added cosmetics from being manufactured, exported and imported to protect public health and the environment.
“We appeal to e-commerce and health product regulators to conduct immediate law enforcement measures to put a stop to this illicit trade, which poses a real threat to public health and the environment,” Lucero said.
To protect human health and the environment from cosmetics laden with mercury, the EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the urgent need to take down violative product listings and social media posts, block and penalize non-compliant parties, and hold platforms liable if they fail to act to stop the illegal trade and protect consumer rights in line with RA 11967.
As stated in RA 11967, “the state shall guarantee the effective regulation of e-commerce to protect consumer rights… ensure product standards and safety compliance, and observe environmental sustainability.”
Aside from Goree, the EcoWaste Coalition also monitored the online sale of other Pakistan-made skin lightening products with mercury content, including Aneeza Gold Beauty Cream, Arena Gold Beauty Cream (2 variants), Biocos Beauty Cream, Chandni Whitening Cream, Faiza Beauty Cream, Fresh & White Beauty Cream, Golden Pearl Beauty Cream (2 variants), Parley Beauty Cream (2 variants), Sandal Beauty Cream, Tibet Snow Cream, and Yaz Beauty Cream (2 variants).
FDA-flagged skin lightening products from Indonesia, Thailand, China and Taiwan were likewise monitored, including Collagen Plus Vit E Day & Night Cream, Dr. Gold Super Quality +SPF30, Fair & Lovely Day & Night Cream, La Bella Day & Night Cream, SP Special UV Whitening Cream, 4K Plus Whitening Cream, 88 Total White Underarm Cream, Dr. Yanhee (5 variants), Meiyong RA Seaweed Super Whitening Set, Snow White Armpit Whitening Cream, BL Vterly Day & Night Cream, Feique Herbal Extract Whitening Freckle-Removing Cream, Jiaoli (4 variants), S-Zitang (2 variants), and Meiduzi Night Cream.
The EcoWaste Coalition appeals to e-commerce and social media platforms to take down product listings for contraband skin-lightening products laden with mercury, a highly toxic chemical banned in cosmetics.
Beyond pressing government regulators and e-commerce platforms to take action, the EcoWaste Coalition called on consumers—particularly women—to reject chemical whiteners and defy color-based discrimination. The advocacy group championed self-acceptance, encouraging the public to proudly embrace their natural skin tones and recognize that true beauty and success transcend any complexion.
Mercury is illegally used as a bleaching or lightening agent in skin-lightening creams and soaps to inhibit melanin production. Chronic use of such adulterated products can cause severe kidney damage, neurological issues, skin rashes, scarring, and discoloration. Mercury from skin-lightening products contaminates water systems, builds up in the food chain, and poisons wildlife after being washed off human skin.
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References:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-CED-PHE-EPE-19.13
https://www.unep.org/globalmercurypartnership/our-work/mercury-products/eliminating-mercury-skin-lightening-products
http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2025/06/ecowaste-coalition-welcomes-full.html
https://ecommerce.dti.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Joint-Administrative-Order-No.-24-03-1.pdf
https://ipen.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/toxic_expose_sm.pdf