The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board is back at it again with the white cream warnings!
Registrar Jonah Ormond spilled the beans on state media this week, reminding skin-lightening cream users of the dangers of mercury content. It’s time to lighten up on the lightening creams, folks!
“The Board is looking at recommendations to ensure whatever creams or cosmetics products that come in the country would be within the safe level to safeguard the population’s health,” Ormond said.
He added,” We also have to be conscious that the effects of the mercury in these creams are not limited to the users. You put on mercury cream, it is in your house, and children and pets could also be affected”.
In 2022 the board spoke about regulations that would make the importation of skin-lightening creams and other cosmetics that contain an unsafe amount of mercury illegal.
Many persons who use the products and those against bleaching were displeased with the news.
Many think that residents should be able to do whatever they wish with their bodies.
Aside from brand name products sold in stores, Dr Linroy Christian, Director of Analytical Services in Antigua and Barbuda also stated, back then, that his team at the government’s central laboratory was also looking for local homemade products that perform the same function.
A Mercury Monitoring Network for the Caribbean will, at some point, be established and headquartered in Antigua.
Other countries in the region, like Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname, are also partnering with the department in Antigua to measure the impact of mercury in skin bleaching products and to measure the levels of heavy metals in other areas that affect health and the environment.
I do agree with the terms and the condition because bleaching is not good