You may have them in your cupboards. Maybe, you use them, still. Beware: they are dangerous, illegal, harmful… and are the subject of a recall or ban by the European sanitary authorities. Underneath, you may find all the cosmetic products targeted by the RAPEX alert system this week: cosmetics containing preservatives in too high concentrations and a hair dye contaminated with bacteria.
Mascara
Brand: PaintGlow
Name: Neon Eye Mascara
Type: 36/2114
Barcode: 5 060335 875150
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Notifying country: Germany
Danger: The product contains an excessive amount of butylparaben (measured value as acid: 0.17% by weight).
Butylparaben is a reproductive toxicant and may have a potential endocrine disrupting activity.
According to the list of ingredients the product contains the colorants Solvent Yellow 172, CI 45161 and CI 45174, which are not authorised for its use in cosmetics, as well as CI 74620, which is authorised but not in eye products.
The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
Measures taken by economic operators: withdrawal of the product from the market (by distributor)
Hair dye
Brand : V.B. DR.SAM
Name: Hair color cream
Barcode: EAN 6923515986093
• Country of origin: China
• Notifying country: France
Danger: The product contains an excessive amount of diethylene glycol (DEG).
Diethylene glycol can be lethal as it can harm kidneys, reproduction and the development of the unborn child.
The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
Measures taken by economic operators: recall of the product from end users (by importer)
Henna
Brand: Dil Se
Name: Organic Henna Powder
Batch number : 260 116 EUR
Barcode : 0170000205450
• Country of origin: Unknown
• Notifying country: Irlande
Danger: The product contains an excessive level of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (measured values up to 180,000 cfu/g) and yeast and mould (measured values up to 150 cfu/g).
If used on damaged skin, or if it comes into contact with the eyes, the product may cause infection or irritation.
The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
Measures taken by economic operators: withdrawal of the product from the market (by retailer).
Tatoo ink
Brand: Intenze
Name: Terra Di Siena
Batch number: SS227, RX46Q23Y79W124O75R69G89IMX40
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Notifying country: Germany
Danger: The product contains nickel (measured value: 95.8 mg/kg). Nickel can cause skin irritation and induce sensitisation or elicit allergic responses.
The Council of Europe Resolution ResAP (2008) on requirements and criteria for the safety of tattoos and permanent make-up recommends that the content of nickel in tattoo inks be as low as technically achievable.
Measures taken by economic operators : recall of the product from end users (by the retailer).
Hair care
Brand: Inoar
Name: G.HAIR Smoothing Treatment
Type: 2 Tragaamento Antivolume
Batch number: L.13997
• Country of origin: Unknow
• Notifying country: Germany
Danger: The product contains an excessive amount of formaldehyde (measured value: 10% by weight).
Formaldehyde may produce irritation of the eyes, the skin and upper respiratory tract; long-term exposure may cause cancer.
The product does not comply with the Cosmetic Products Regulation.
Measures ordered by public authorities (to retailer): this product listing was removed from Amazon’s marketplace.
Source
• Rapid Alert System - Weekly Reports, Report 12, European Commission, 22/03/2019.