The French Afssaps launches an awareness campaign about the health risks linked to "the voluntary practice of skin depigmentation". This shall be understood as using unlawful, counterfeit or diverted prescription drugs and/or cosmetics, to whiten one’s skin. This is a public health issue, as the consequences may be dramatic: skin diseases, increased risk of diabetes and of high blood pressure, renal and neurologic complications …
November 16, 2011
The French Agency for Sanitary Safety of Health Products (Afssaps, as per its French acronym) wants to warn the public at large about the dangers of skin whitening. Some people are ready to use dangerous products to whiten their complexion. Indeed, these products are often
"
drugs or pharmacy-made products with a high whitening effect, diverted from their prescription, counterfeit drugs or unlawful whitening products, which often contain strong dermo-corticoids, hydroquinone, even mercury derivatives,"
the Agency states in its press release. Obviously, "
incorporating these substances in skin whitening cosmetics is prohibited."
Market survey
Nevertheless, the market is inundated with products that infringe the current regulation. The Afssaps and the General Directorate for Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control ( DGCCRF , as per its French acronym), have performed a huge operation to check more than 160 products, in 2009 and 2010. Their conclusion: between 30 and 40% of these products " did not meet the requirements of the regulation on cosmetics, and were dangerous because of the presence of prohibited substances."
Point out the products, not people
The Paris City Hall had launched, in 2009, a similar public awareness campaign in a very focused and …
