The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned against the importation, production, sale and use of fake and substandard cosmetics and condiments in the country.
Mrs. Christiana Essenwa, the Deputy Director of NAFDAC in Anambra State, gave the warning in Onitsha at a sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in the manufacture and sale of cosmetics and condiments.
She said the agency discovered that some cosmetics and condiments contained hazardous ingredients harmful to the body.
“There is a report that certain long-lasting lipsticks contain aluminum and toxic compounds which are dangerous to health.
“Again, some of these eyelashes (ladies put on) have also been discovered to cause inflammation of the eyes just as turmeric powder in cosmetics elevates cancer and cacogenic growth.
“Fake and substandard products generally affect socio-economic development by straining the healthcare system and harming the national economy, tourism and trade,” Essenwa warned.
She further warned against deceptive and detrimental advertisement of such products, their use as well as sale of harmful bleaching creams, saying they affect the skin and organs.
Advising the public to always insist on receipts for purchased items, she said consumers and retailers should endeavor to report suspicious activities on fake and substandard products.
“Reject products that do not have NAFDAC registration number; expired products should be discarded; ensure that products have manufacturing date, full and traceable address, before purchasing them,” she added.