Banned substances also found in Western brand cosmetics: report

Asian Economic News, Oct 2, 2006

BEIJING, Sept. 25 Kyodo

U.S. and European brand beauty products are also believed to contain substances banned in China which have prompted a halt in sales of SK-II cosmetics imported from Japan, a Chinese business daily reported Monday.

Cosmetics by four high-end international brands including Clinique and Estee Lauder were found by a Hong Kong inspection center to contain chromium and neodymium, with some of them exceeding the amount found in SK-II products, China Business News reported quoting Hong Kong media.

The business daily also said that the two substances are not banned under European, Japanese or U.S. standards, and that European regulations say traces of them do not pose safety concerns for consumers.

Chinese quality control authorities could not be reached for comment.

The Japan unit of U.S. consumer products group Procter & Gamble Co. said Friday it is halting the sales of SK-II cosmetics products in mainland China due to the ''confusion among consumers in China'' that followed reports that the two substances were found in them.

The company said it sees no quality problems in the products, and their sales in Japan and other parts of Asia will continue.

Hong Kong and Singapore authorities have given the all-clear for the products, saying they contain only small amounts of the possibly harmful metallic substances.