Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) outlined 32 brands of cosmetics that contain mercury and hydroquinone that remain banned in the Uganda market.

This is in line with its mandate of protecting the public and the environment against harmful and sub-standard products.

A previous survey done by UNBS indicates that 31% of the samples brought from the market and tested in UNBS’ internationally accredited laboratories were found to contain hydroquinone, contrary to the requirements of US EAS 377-2:2013 and most of these were imported products.

Some of the imported products were labeled as containing hydroquinone, though written as Benzene-1, 4-diol; 1, 4 hydroxy benzene; 1, 4-Benzenediol or Benzene-1, 4-Diol whereas others do not declare at all, which is harmful to unsuspecting clients.

The 32 brands tested and found to have Hydroquinone or Mercury or both include;

1. Nature Secrete Lightening Moisturizing Body Lotion with Carrot

2. B Light Extra Fort Lightening Body Milk with Carrot Extracts

3. Clinic Clear Whitening Body Lotion

4. Skin Lotion Nature Secrete Lightening Moisturizing Body Lotion with Carrot.

5. Fair and White (F & W) Brightening and Clarifying Carrot

6. White Secret Lightening Body Lotion

7. White Express – Carrotte

8. Totem (Carotte+bave d’Escargot)

9. Light Up Dark Spots Correcting

10. Rapid Clair Super Éclair Assant

11. B Light Extra Fort Lightening Body Milk with Carrot Extracts

12. White Secret

13. Nature Secrete; Carotte

14. White Express – Eclaircissant Lait

15. Lemon Clear Clearing Beauty Cream Treatment.

16. Beauty Clinic whitening Body Cream (Skin repair and anti-aging)

17. Maxi Claire

18. Bio Perfect Light

19. White Secret

20. Beation

21. Miki Clair Plus

22. Totem

23. Bio Plus Carrot

24. Carolight

25. Cocopulp

26. Bio Plus Carrot

27. Blight Extra fort

28. Totem (Carotte+bave d’Escargot)

29. Teint Clair

30. Rapid Clair Carotte

31. White Secrete

32. Light Up Dark Spots Correcting

Hydroquinone and Mercury are common active ingredients found in several skin care products, designed specifically to lighten or bleach the skin.

However, Research has established that hydroquinone is a carcinogenic or a cancer-causing chemical and it has also been linked to the medical condition known as ochronosis in which the skin becomes dark and thick.