Tuesday, 19th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

South Sudan Bans Bleaching Creams

By Akinwale Akinyoade
22 January 2019   |   8:14 pm
South Sudan in a move to combat bleaching in the country has banned bleaching cream products. The ban was made known today by South Sudan’s Drugs and Food Control Authority (DFCA). The Secretary-General of DFCA, Mawien Atem Mawien said the ban seeks to protect the people of South Sudan from being exposed to harmful chemicals used…

South Sudan in a move to combat bleaching in the country has banned bleaching cream products.

The ban was made known today by South Sudan’s Drugs and Food Control Authority (DFCA).

The Secretary-General of DFCA, Mawien Atem Mawien said the ban seeks to protect the people of South Sudan from being exposed to harmful chemicals used in manufacturing skin bleaching cosmetics. He said,

“All the whitening or bleaching creams are prohibited for import without any approval from DFCA, most especially those that contain mercury and hydroquinone’’.

The regulatory body ordered all cosmetic dealers in the country to obtain new import licences in an effort to regulate their business.

“It is very clear that cosmetics are being used in South Sudan without any discrimination despite the fact that they contain so many chemicals. No cosmetics will be brought to the Republic of South Sudan without the approval of DFCA. Anything outside the right channel will be deemed illegal,’’ Mawien said.

 

Skin lightening or whitening is common in South Sudan, especially among the youth. It, however, remains unclear whether the ban will be effective as several other bans on polythene bags and export of charcoal have so far failed to materialise.

This ban by South Sudan is in the wake of a similar move by some other African countries like Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, where the importation of such products is prohibited.

It, however, remains unclear whether the ban will be effective as several other bans on polythene bags and export of charcoal have so far failed to materialise. According to the World Health Organisation, skin bleaching using soaps or creams containing chemicals such as mercury can cause diverse health effects on the human body.

0 Comments