Toxic Hair Dyes Still on the Market: EcoWaste Coalition Calls for Urgent Action

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Despite regulatory bans aimed at protecting public health, hair dyes containing the dangerous chemical sodium perborate are still being sold in the Philippines. This alarming revelation, brought to light by the EcoWaste Coalition, underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of cosmetic safety laws to prevent hazardous substances from reaching consumers.

The Hidden Dangers of Sodium Perborate

Sodium perborate, a bleaching agent once commonly used in hair dyes, has been scientifically classified as a carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substance. This means it poses severe risks to human health, including respiratory issues, skin irritation, reproductive harm, and even potential damage to unborn children.

Regulatory bodies worldwide, including the European Union (EU), have banned sodium perborate in cosmetics due to its hazardous effects. The EU implemented this ban on December 1, 2010, following mounting evidence of its dangers. In response, the ASEAN Cosmetic Committee (ACC) followed suit, listing sodium perborate and other boron compounds in Annex II Part I of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)—a list of substances strictly prohibited in cosmetic products.

This decision, adopted in 2022, gave manufacturers a two-year window to reformulate their products. The official ban took effect on November 21, 2024, under FDA Circular No. 2023-007. Despite these regulations, the recent findings by the EcoWaste Coalition reveal a troubling lack of compliance.

Banned Products Still Available in Stores and Online

Market surveillance conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition found that locally manufactured powder hair dyes containing sodium perborate were still available in major chain stores across Makati, Manila, and Parañaque Cities. Even more concerning, these toxic products were also discovered on various online shopping platforms, making them accessible to unsuspecting consumers nationwide.

Although some manufacturers have introduced reformulated hair dyes free of sodium perborate, others have failed to fully remove the banned products from circulation. This highlights a serious gap in regulatory enforcement and industry compliance, putting countless consumers at risk.

EcoWaste Coalition Demands Immediate Action

In light of these findings, the EcoWaste Coalition is calling for urgent corrective measures:

Nationwide Product Recall – The Market Authorization Holder (MAH) must conduct an exhaustive withdrawal of all non-compliant products from shelves, ensuring complete removal across the country.

Retailer Compliance – Both physical and online retailers must inspect their inventory and immediately return any remaining stock of sodium perborate-containing hair dyes to suppliers for environmentally sound disposal.

Stronger FDA Enforcement – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must step up enforcement actions to hold non-compliant manufacturers and retailers accountable. This includes imposing stricter penalties on violators.

Public Advisory – The FDA should issue a follow-up advisory reminding the industry and consumers that sodium perborate, perboric acid, and boron compounds are banned in all cosmetic products.

What Consumers Need to Know

Consumers are urged to be vigilant when purchasing hair dyes. Here are some steps to ensure safety:

Check product labels for harmful ingredients like sodium perborate.

Purchase only from reputable sources that adhere to safety regulations.

Report any adverse reactions to the FDA or health authorities.

Follow all safety instructions when using cosmetics, including conducting a patch test before full application.

What’s Next? A Nationwide Follow-Up Investigation

To ensure compliance, the EcoWaste Coalition has announced plans for a follow-up market investigation on April 4, 2025, marking the second anniversary of FDA Circular No. 2023-007. This operation will assess whether retailers and manufacturers have fully removed non-compliant hair dyes from circulation.

The continued presence of hazardous chemicals like sodium perborate in hair dyes is a serious public health concern. Consumers, advocacy groups, regulatory agencies, and industry leaders must work together to eliminate these toxic products from the market once and for all.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.