Illegal Trade Fuels Mercury Influx; Give Teeth To Minamata Convention Through Intergovernmental Cooperation

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Seven years since the Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force, environmental NGO BAN Toxics reiterates its call for stronger intergovernmental cooperation to address the illegal manufacturing, import, and export of elemental mercury and mercury-added products.

“Addressing mercury pollution for a country like the Philippines, which doesn’t have mercury mining, will require concerted efforts with other countries to prevent the entry and trade of illegal mercury and mercury-containing products. Despite existing laws and regulations, preventing the transboundary trade of illegal mercury remains the biggest challenge for our regulatory and enforcement agencies,” said Jam Lorenzo, head of BAN Toxics’ Policy Development and Research Unit.

Research studies on mercury trade have documented cases of elemental mercury smuggling into the Philippines via backdoor routes using boats. Cinnabar deposits are mined in Mexico, Indonesia, and potentially China, where mercury usage is high. Mercury has been transported by boats across the Indonesian archipelago, with shipments to the Philippines, particularly from Manado to Mindanao, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

During his presentation at the Minamata Secretariat Workshop on Mercury Trade held in Talisay, Batangas in June, Geri Geronimo-Sañez of the DENR-EMB acknowledged the challenges in enhancing border control and monitoring online sales of mercury-added products amid evolving e-commerce landscape.

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that can cause irreparable damage to the nervous system. It has long environmental persistence and global mobility—cycling through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. Its emissions and releases can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.

On August 16, 2017, the Minamata Convention on Mercury—a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds—came into force.

The Convention was named after Minamata Bay in Japan, where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-contaminated industrial wastewater poisoned thousands, causing severe health damage that became known as the “Minamata disease.”

It addresses mercury pollution by limiting mining, regulating trade, reducing and, where feasible, eliminating mercury use in products and processes, controlling emissions, and promoting safe waste disposal. To date, there are 148 parties to the Convention, including the Philippines, which ratified the treaty in August 2020.

BAN Toxics has been advocating for the elimination of mercury for more than a decade and has been active in international negotiations and treaty conferences.

According to Lorenzo, mercury enters the country either in its elemental form or through items laced with mercury, such as skin-lightening creams, dental amalgams, and fluorescent lights.

The country has developed and issued several policies to regulate mercury, most notably the Revised Chemical Control Order for Mercury and Mercury Compounds, also known as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2019-20. The Department of Health (DOH) also issued Administrative Order No. 2020-0020 regarding the phase-out of dental amalgams. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued FDA Circular No. 2022-003, which bans all mercury-added thermometers, sphygmomanometers, and dental amalgam capsules. The FDA also regularly issues advisories banning identified mercury-containing skin-lightening products.

Continuous market monitoring by BAN Toxics reveals that over-the-counter or under-the-table sales of prohibited cosmetics in beauty stores within shopping malls, public markets, general merchandise stores, and on online e-commerce platforms persist.

“In our constant monitoring of mercury-containing skin-lightening products, we can confidently say that there is no decrease in the number of products being sold; instead, we are seeing more products and sellers entering the market. This indicates that the illegal manufacturing and trade of these products remain unaddressed by countries that, if the product labels are accurate, are parties to the Minamata Convention,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics Campaign and Advocacy Officer.

Dizon is referring to Pakistan, Thailand, China, and India as the countries where most illegal cosmetics are purportedly manufactured.

Recently, BAN Toxics identified a Thailand-made cosmetic product named Dr. Yanhee Facial Cream, which has not yet been certified by the FDA, circulating on online platforms Lazada and Shopee. The product has mercury concentrations ranging from 11,300 to as high as 23,800 parts per million (ppm). It claims to have been tested by Yanhee International Hospital and certified by ISO and the FDA.

Currently, the Minamata Convention, as well as the DENR and FDA, has set an allowable limit of 1 ppm mercury content for skin-lightening products. However, BAN Toxics maintains that there is no safe level of exposure to mercury.

BAN Toxics has written to the FDA to conduct post-market surveillance and subsequently issue an advisory to warn the public against this product.

“There has been a marked increase in the use of online platforms for selling mercury-containing cosmetics, and this has largely gone unregulated. As of February 2024, we have identified over 1,000 sellers of these prohibited products on Lazada, Shopee, and Facebook Marketplace,” Dizon shared.

In a submission to the Minamata Convention regarding the trade of mercury-added cosmetics, BAN Toxics identified Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam as intermediary or transit countries for the online sale of these products.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo notes that another significant source of mercury emissions and releases in the country is the artisanal small-scale gold mining sector, which is identified globally as a major contributor. Mercury is used in mining to capture gold from milled ores.

“Our consultations with small-scale gold miners reveal that mercury use in the sector remains prevalent due to insufficient support for mercury-free technologies and alternatives. As a poverty-driven sector that relies on subsistence mining, the transition to mercury-free processes needs to be supported by the government. At the same time, efforts must be made to prevent the entry of illegal mercury into the country. While there are sellers of mercury, there will inevitably be users, underscoring the need for intergovernmental cooperation to address illegal trade and entry into the country,” said Lorenzo.

“Intergovernmental cooperation can take the form of collaboration arrangements on information exchange, market surveillance, and technical or financial assistance to enhance capabilities for detecting illegal products.”

As for mercury-containing medical measuring devices (MCMMDs) and lamps found in hospitals or healthcare facilities, Lorenzo said that a study conducted by BAN Toxics and published in 2022 showed that the phase-out of these products has been largely successful. However, he noted that not all healthcare facilities have disposed of their MCMMDs properly. In those that have disposed of them, a significant percentage were discarded through municipal waste or sold to third-party buyers, posing a risk of releasing mercury into the environment.

BAN Toxics is currently working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR on the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project. One of the main components of this 5-year project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is to assist hospitals with the inventory and proper disposal of mercury stockpiles.



“The anniversary of the Minamata Convention is a milestone worth celebrating, as we have seen significant progress in our advocacy for a mercury-free world over the past years. However, we still have a long way to go. Parties involved in the Convention should strive to work together to advance our shared goals and overcome the remaining challenges,” Lorenzo concluded.

JHI, STATS run it back with UPMBT, extend support to other Fighting Maroons

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Januarius Holdings Inc. (JHI) and subsidiary STATS Technical Sportswear again threw their support behind the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) for UAAP Season 87, ensuring that they will continue to sponsor the team’s overseas training camps like the ones they have had in Serbia, Korea, the US and Japan.

It will also stay as the team’s official outfitter, a role it has played since UAAP Season 80.

JHI chairman and CEO JJ Atencio signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD) Director Bo Perasol, nowheretogobutUP chairman Jed Eva, and UPMBT manager Atty. Agaton Uvero on August 16, at the Executive House in UP Diliman.

As part of the renewed partnership, the UPMBT will also get to use JHI and STATS’ Vald performance equipment that will accurately assess the athletes’ progress and performance that will lead to accurate, data-informed decisions.

“It has been gratifying to see how the players are preparing for Season 87 with their recent training camp in Korea where they faced the top ball clubs there. We want to keep them battle-ready physically, mentally, and emotionally. That’s why we decided to also provide them with a state-of-the-art equipment that will help manage and improve their performance and well-being,” Atencio said.

At the event, Atencio also announced that they will partner with the UP OASD to provide training and official game jerseys to other UP varsity teams.

“First of all, we want to thank JJ for continuing to believe in our basketball program and for supporting the Fighting Maroons all these years. Now, he has even extended his support to other UP varsity teams,” Perasol said.

“We have seen how big the impact is on our players and teams to have the backing of sponsors like JJ and the support of the community. Our teams will be so proud to wear those uniforms and represent the university in the UAAP and other tournaments. We are all grateful to JHI and STATS for the help they extend to our athletes,” the OASD Director added.

“JJ Atencio has long been a believer and a partner of the Fighting Maroons. He’s been supporting the team’s overseas camps since 2017 and we appreciate him very much. He is not just a supporter, he is a treasured friend,” said UPMBT manager Atty. Uvero

Your skincare products may be making your sensitive skin worse. Now what?

(From left to right): 2% Salicylic Acid Cleanser, 2% Salicylic + Niacinamide Toner, Brightening + Calming Moisturizer + Amino Acid Gentle Cleanser, 0.2% Retinol + Peptide, Licorice.

Careless skincare manufacturers focus on hot new ingredients that may harm your skin. Don't fall for the marketing hype when you see those untested chemicals.

Over 60 percent of all women report having sensitive skin. That's an absolutely shocking number -- but many skincare brands don't seem to care.

The next time you're out shopping for a lotion, salve or balm, take a look at what's being advertised. To many people, if they see an extract named after a flower, leaf or tree, it gives the impression that the product must be "natural" -- and natural means healthy, right?

In reality, those extracts and isolates are just chemicals -- and they're totally untested. Skincare brands don't have to prove that anything actually works, or even that it's from the source that they say it is.

The problem is particularly pressing in the Philippines, where rampant air pollution and powerful sunlight are constantly assaulting exposed skin. The ultrafine particles (UFPs) produced by our endless traffic gridlocks have been shown to cause skin inflammation and other issues.

In an environment that's already so challenging, can your skin take yet another hit from harsh skincare products?

A problem with many layers

Skincare products all include several types of ingredients, such as surfactants, preservatives and humectants. Each of these ingredients can potentially cause issues.

Take sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for example. The surfactant, which can be made from natural coconut oil, makes cleansers foam up nicely in a way that makes users say: "Ahh! Fresh, clean skin!" That's why a huge number of skincare brands use SLS in their products.

But SLS causes skin irritation in many people, which may only appear hours or days after usage. Worse, SLS has been found to be frequently contaminated with carcinogens, which can damage skin and even cause cancer.

And SLS isn't even the active ingredient -- it's just part of the supporting cast.

But most consumers aren't familiar enough with what's on their skincare product's label to know what to avoid. And so many skincare brands feel free to continue using problematic ingredients.

A new trend toward sensitive-friendly products

However, many people -- and their dermatologists -- have now caught on to the idea that a seemingly meticulous skincare routine can cause more harm than good.

That's why some leading-edge brands have started focusing on sensitive skin friendly products. After all, with over half of all people reporting sensitive skin, it's clearly a large market.

One recently launched brand, Croia, has worked with Philippines-based laboratory to assemble ingredient lists that are scientifically proven to work well with sensitive skin conditions.

"I've personally struggled with sensitive skin, and eczema, my whole life," says Erika Castro-Morrison, Croia's co-founder. "My whole family has. I got really tired of having to second guess my skincare routine."

Both eczema and acne are widespread among Filipinas. Croia's before-and-after testers have shared images with the company of their progress after using the milder topicals that the company offers.

For now, Croia is offering a collection of 5 products, ranging from the mild retinol, acne cleansers, toner, and moisturizer.

Croia is also trying to solve problems specific to the Filipino market, like that ever-present air pollution. Methionine, one of the ingredients in the Amino Acid Cleanser, is an amino acid already found in your body, and has been proven to help prevent damage from pollutants.

With any luck, the future of healthy, safe skincare will be bright -- and so will your skin.

Croia products can be found at: Croia-Aoife.com, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and Shopee. 

About Aoife Skin Project / Croia

Croia is a skincare brand using evidence-based formulation made for sensitive skin. Croia’s goal is to counteract misinformation about skincare which leads to people damaging their own skin — and raise awareness and self-care in proper and gentle approach. All Croia products are designed for even the most sensitive skin.