Government fixes criteria for cosmetic items

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Nepal Council for Standardization (NCS) has determined criteria for cosmetic items that are imported, produced, being sold and being used in the country.

The 101th meeting of the NCS held under the chairmanship of Minister for Industry, Commence and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav recently took the decision to this effect. This move is aimed at curbing the production, sales and use of those cosmetic products that contain harmful elements like lead, mercury, cobalt, arsenic, cadmium and the like in high ratio.

Executive Director of the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development, Ram Charitra Shah informed that the criteria included some specific requirements including limits of acidity or alkalinity in the cosmetic products, microbial contamination, packaging, labeling, samplings and testing procedures and the like.

The toxic chemicals and compounds found in the beauty products could affect the nervous system, the memory power, hearing power and reproductive system. The dangerous chemicals in the cosmetics also pose a risk to children and pregnant women and their growth could be impede.

Shah expressed his confidence that with the effective implementation of the criteria would help Nepal fulfill the objectives of the various conventions it has been signatory to such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Minamata Convention on Mercury among others. He also urged the government to consider formulating Acts and regulations regarding cosmetics based on the criteria.