BPOM Finds 181 Types Of Forbidden Cosmetics

A number of cosmetics made from banned ingredients were displayed at a Public Warning event related to traditional medicines and cosmetics followed in Jakarta/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) found 181 types of cosmetics containing prohibited raw materials from September 2022 to October 2023. "We got 181 cosmetic items containing prohibited ingredients," said Acting Head of BPOM Rizka Andalucia at a Public Warning event related to traditional medicines and cosmetics followed in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, December 8. BPOM, said Rizka, together with a number of relevant stakeholders have found around 1.2 million cosmetic packages with prohibited raw materials and interestingly from circulation. "All of them with an economic value of more than Rp. 42 billion," he said Rizka said all the cosmetics withdrawn came from almost all regions in Indonesia, especially from DKI Jakarta, East Java, North Sumatra, and South Sulawesi. A number of prohibited ingredients were found, he said, include mercury which resulted in changes in skin tone, black spots, allergies, and irritation. "The smell becomes dry and burned, changes in the shape and function of the fetal organs in pregnant women, and will cause defects," he added. In addition, said Rizka, there is also hydroquinon material which causes hyperpigmentation or skin to become dark, dark, and changes to the eyeline if exposed to the eye. To prevent the sale of the cosmetics online, BPOM has asked the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) to block 103,587 links to the sale of cosmetics made of prohibited materials. "Of course, BPOM will also revoke its distribution permit and (the product) should not be circulated again," he said.

Therefore, he appealed to the public not to take drugs and food without a distribution permit, and to ensure that they buy and obtain medicines, including cosmetics through trusted and licensed facilities.