Hong Kong customs said it had launched an investigation into
nine Japanese beauty products, labelled "SK-II", after some were
found to contain banned substances.
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Authorities found chromium and neodymium ions in several SK-II
products imported from Japan, including powder, foundation, lotion
and cleansing oil.
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The substances are banned in Hong Kong. Chromium can cause eczema,
while neodymium irritates the skin and can damage the lungs and
liver if inhaled.
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Some of the products have been removed from some shops in Hong
Kong.
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The customs department said it would conduct lab tests on the
samples it had collected to see whether they contained the two
substances.
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Local consumer watchdogs will also follow up the case, it
said.
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Procter and Gamble (Japan), the owner of SK-II, denied it had added
the substances to its products and said it would cooperate with the
authorities to resolve the issue.
"We will talk with the authorities about the technological problem.
For example, in our country (Japan), grain is allowed to remain at
1ppm (1mg per kilogram) of chrome and powder is allowed to remain
at 2ppm. For cosmetics, the technology needs further
clarification," the Japanese company said.
The statement didn't explain whether "our country" refers to Japan
or the United States. Phone calls to P&G spokesperson were
unanswered.
It said chrome is a material that exists in natural items, such as
water and food, it added.
The Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau found a type of
SK-II cosmetic containing 4.5 mg/kg of neodymium. It also found
chromium in some other types of SK-II cosmetics, with a rate of
0.77 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg.
According to Regulations on Hygienic Standards for Cosmetics
(GB1976), cosmetics should not contain chromium or neodymium.
Experts say chromium can cause skin diseases such as allergic
dermatitis and eczema, which is very hard to cure. Neodymium can
cause irritation of the eyes and mucosa. If inhaled, the substance
can damage the lung and liver.
Europe has also banned these two elements in cosmetics, according
to the administration.
SK-II got into trouble last year because a customer said her skin
was damaged by a corrosive ingredient in the product and filed a
lawsuit against P&G.
In another development, the administration issued warnings against
food products imported from Japan after a series of products were
found to contain excessive chemicals.
The administration said they have found quality problems in more
than 30 batches of food products imported from Japan since
June.
The Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau found excessive
sorbic acid in fish sticks, reaching a rate of 1.3g /kg, 17.3 times
the nation's safety limit.
It has also detected excessive sorbic acid in salted carrots
imported from Kyushu in Japan.
