Pakistani beauty cream found with 20,000 times legal mercury levels

A skin-lightening cream from Pakistan has been found to contain dangerously high levels of mercury, despite claims of being safe. The EcoWaste Coalition detected the toxic metal in Golden Pearl Ultra Glam Beauty Cream, marking their 35th such discovery in imported products. The group is now pushing for stricter enforcement against mercury-laced cosmetics. The product, purchased for P285 from an online seller, was tested and found to contain 20,320 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. This far exceeds the 1 ppm limit set by the Minamata Convention on Mercury, an international treaty restricting hazardous substances.

Golden Pearl Ultra Glam Beauty Cream falsely advertised itself as containing 'no harmful ingredients.' The label made no mention of mercury, yet testing confirmed its presence. The Philippine Single Window Authority (PSQA) had already banned six Pakistan-made beauty products, including Golden Pearl Beauty Cream, due to hazardous components. At the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5) to the Minamata Convention, delegates agreed to ban mercury in cosmetics entirely. They also moved the phase-out deadline for mercury-added products to 2025. Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, called on the Government of Pakistan to enforce the ban and stop producing and exporting such items. Mercury in skin-lightening products poses severe health risks, including chronic poisoning. Long-term exposure can lead to kidney damage, neurological disorders, and other serious conditions.

The EcoWaste Coalition continues to demand stronger action against violative cosmetics. Authorities have already banned several Pakistan-made products, but illegal sales persist online. The group insists on stricter monitoring to prevent further harm to consumers.