BPOM Raided Illegal Cosmetic Under International Brand

Jakarta (Greeners) – Indonesia’s food and drugs authority or BPOM held 2015 Illegal Cosmetic, Drugs and Food Raid Operation.

The Operation went on in seven cities, — Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, and Serang –, from Oct. 19 to 30.

In the operation, BPOM civil servant investigators have raided 977 items or 595,218 cosmetics without licenses and contain dangerous chemicals worth of Rp 20 billion.

Among those confiscated were whitening cream, soap, lotion, mascara, eye liner and face wash.

Head of BPOM Roy Sparringa said they also found fake international cosmetic products from the raid including RDL Baby Face Solution, Clariderm Astringent, SJ Night Cream, Papaya Whitening Soap, UV Whitening Soap (orange), Ling Zhi Night Cream, Maxi Peel 3, Citra Day and Night Cream, DR Original Cream, Ponds White Beauty Complete Beauty Care, eyeliner Revlon, Citra soap, and lipgloss Maybelline.

“These fakes were coming from domestic and international such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, Phillipines and India. They are liable for criminal charges based on 2009 Law on Health Articles 196, 197, and 198,” he said in Jakarta on Monday (09/11).

Furthermore, Roy said that they found harmful substance in these cosmetics especially hydroquinone, retinoic acid, resorcinol, coloring agent CI 15585, diethylene glycol, and lead.

Roy said that those substances were dangerous for skin, for instance mercury can lead to cancer, diarrhea and vomiting. Meanwhile, hydroquinone can cause hyperpigmentation especially those areas with direct sun light.

Retinoic acid can lead to dry skin, burn sensation also birth defect if exposed to pregnant women.

Meanwhile, coloring agents for purple (CI 12075), red (CI 15585), and Rhodamin B can trigger cancer and heart failure.
Since January to September, Roy said, BPOM had investigated 125 cases related to food and drugs.

Out of 125, 36 cases are illegal cosmetics, — 34 illegal cosmetics and two harmful cosmetics.

“We expanded the operation to distributors, importers, and producers. We are looking for dangerous cosmetics, especially those contain mercury, hydroquinone, retinoic acid, CI 15585 and CI 12075 coloring agents. We will pursue criminal charges as a follow up,” he said.

Reports by Danny Kosasih