
Pakistan Targets Toxic Whitening Creams in Major Consumer Safety Drive
In a decisive move to protect public health and restore integrity in the cosmetics industry, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has launched a nationwide crackdown on skin whitening creams found to contain harmful levels of mercury.
The CCP’s Office of Fair Trade and Market Intelligence Unit uncovered that numerous creams—sold both online and in physical stores—are laced with mercury, a toxic element linked to kidney damage, neurological disorders, and severe skin conditions. Alarmingly, many of these products are falsely marketed as “safe” and “effective,” with no mention of mercury in their ingredient lists.
Despite international bans on mercury in cosmetic formulations, Pakistan’s market remains saturated with creams promising “fairness,” “glow,” and “lightening”—often under misleading claims. To combat this, the CCP has invoked Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits deceptive marketing practices and allows for penalties of up to Rs. 75 million or 10% of a company’s annual revenue.
Enforcement actions are now underway against all companies found to be selling or promoting these hazardous products. The CCP emphasized that such practices not only endanger consumers but also create unfair competition in the beauty industry.
Consumers are urged to discontinue use of any whitening creams suspected of containing mercury and to report misleading advertising or unsafe products through the CCP’s Online Complaint Portal.
This initiative marks a pivotal step toward cleaning up Pakistan’s cosmetics landscape and ensuring safer choices for consumers nationwide.