BSTI seizes Tk 1 crore worth of cosmetics with toxic hydroquinone levels

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has seized a large quantity of illegal and substandard cosmetics from various brands during an enforcement operation in the capital. Laboratory tests conducted last night at the BSTI facility revealed that several of the seized products contained hydroquinone levels exceeding the permissible limit by more than 2,500 times.

Hydroquinone, a chemical widely restricted for its harmful effects, can cause severe health risks including skin cancer, liver damage, and kidney failure.

At a press briefing held today (8 October) at the BSTI headquarters, Director General (Grade-1) S M Ferdous Alam disclosed the findings. According to the BSTI standards, the maximum allowable concentration of hydroquinone in cosmetics is 5 mg/kg. However, the laboratory results showed alarmingly high levels in multiple brands.

The Ensign brand skin cream contained 13,968.3 mg/kg of hydroquinone—2,793 times higher than the permissible limit. Other creams showed similarly excessive levels, including Skinlight (12,175.70 mg/kg), Skinsign (12,325.39 mg/kg), No Scars (12,452.95 mg/kg), Myfair (11,871.14 mg/kg), Eloson-HT (12,108.61 mg/kg), Miracle (11,916.19 mg/kg), Skin Shine (11,354.26 mg/kg), and Skin Sunrise (11,843.59 mg/kg).

During the operation in the city's Chawkbazar area, BSTI officials found that two companies—Messrs Century Trade and Messrs Swarna International—were marketing various cosmetics including skin creams, baby oils, lipsticks, powders, and whitening products without BSTI licences or approvals, and by providing false information.

Following legal proceedings, a mobile court fined each company Tk 100,000 under the BSTI Act, 2018, totalling Tk 200,000. They were also directed to obtain CM licences and proper approvals before marketing their products. Additionally, both companies were fined another Tk 200,000 under the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 2018, for selling and distributing unregistered packaged goods—bringing total fines to Tk 400,000.

The operation, led by BSTI Executive Magistrate Lutfunnesa Khanam, resulted in the seizure of illegal and substandard cosmetics worth approximately Tk 1 crore, which have been brought to BSTI headquarters for further action.