Why the Philippine FDA issued an alert vs some K-beauty products

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against the distribution and use of “banned” cosmetics from South Korea.

What triggered the advisory? No less than a ban and recall from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea. The Philippine FDA, citing its South Korean counterpart, said the products contained “dangerous levels of antimony.”

These products are the following:

Aritaum Full Cover Stick Concealer (#1 Light Beige)
Batch No: AAH; Expiry Date: 2021/01/12
Batch No: BAH; Expiry Date: 2021/01/30
Batch No: CBH; Expiry Date: 2021/02/11

Aritaum Full Cover Stick Concealer (#2 Natural Beige)
Batch No: ELG; Expiry Date: 2020/12/17

Aritaum Full Cover Cream Concealer (#Light Beige and Natural Beige)
Batch No: GLG; Expiry Date: 2020/12/14
Batch No: AAH; Expiry Date: 2021/01/30

Aritaum Full Cover Cream Concealer (#2 Olive Green and Pink)
Batch No: AAH; Expiry Date: 2021/01/14

Etude House AC Clean Up Mild Concealer
Batch No: AAH; Expiry Date: 2021/01/08

Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Duo
Batch No: GLG; Expiry Date: 2020/12/17

XTM Style Homme For Men Easy Stick Concealer

Black Monster Homme Black Erasing Pen

Skeda Homme Spot Concealer

Skinfood Cherry Full Lip Liner (Rose Cherry)

3CE Slim Eyebrow Pencil (Chestnut Brown)

Makeheal Naked Slim Brown Pencil Br0203

Makeheal Naked Slim Brown Pencil Y10801

“The FDA hereby informs the public that 12 of the 13 cosmetic products mentioned above are not notified with FDA and are not allowed to be distributed in the country,” the agency, which is attached to the Philippine health department, said in an advisory on April 2.

Etude House’s AC Mild Clean Up Mild Concealer, the FDA said, is “notified” with the agency. It added that it has already coordinated with Etude House distributor Rose Fiore House Corporation, who said that the batch that’s in the Philippines is not affected by the order from South Korea.

Antimony, the FDA said, is a “heavy metal found naturally in the environment which has been proven to cause adverse health effects in humans.” Exposure to toxic amounts can lead to skin irritation, headaches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and abdominal pain, among others.

The FDA said that if you encounter these symptoms, you should head to a nearby clinic.

“Anyone who has bought the aforementioned cosmetic products, either from international travel or social media sites illegally offering them for sale, you are highly advised to immediately stop using them and throw them away,” the FDA said. – Rappler.com