GEORGE TOWN: Local cosmetic manufacturers must ensure their products are safe before putting them out in the market, the Health Ministry said.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said in view of high levels of mercury found in a local cosmetic product recently, factories must employ best practices in ensuring that substances used do not exceed permissible levels.

“Manufacturers of beauty products must control the quality of their products from the get go.

“They must employ Good Manufacturing Practices so that unwanted substances do not get in their products,” he said after taking part in the Program Ziarah Kasih Sayang at Bayan Lepas here today.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry banned one of Qu Puteh’s cosmetic products, after it was found to have high levels of mercury.

The ministry had stated that one of the products, the Qu Puteh Whitening Pro 9 cream, contained high levels of mercury, beyond the permissible level in cosmetic products.

The Brunei Health Ministry had also banned two Qu Puteh products for supposedly containing harmful products.

Manufacturers Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd has since pulled the affected products off the shelves.

-New Straits Times