REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Indonesia's Agency for Food and Drugs Control (BPOM) has seized at least 1 million illegal cosmetics, worth some Rp20 billion, during January to October period, the agency's Deputy for Traditional Medicines, Cosmetics and Complementary Products, Ondri Dwi Sampurno, said.

During the period, the agency has seized 756,495 illegal imported cosmetics and 491,667 local cosmetics distributed across the country, Sampurno stated here on Thursday.

"We have also found and seized thousands of products with hazardous content," he noted on the sideline of the 27th ASEAN Cosmetics Committee (ACC) meeting and its related events.

The event was attended by producers and drugs supervisory agencies from across the region.

"We have also seized 11,457 local and 5,900 imported cosmetics with hazardous content," he continued.

Most of the illegal cosmetics include lipstick and eye shadow, and among the hazardous content was mercury.

He admitted that the number of illegal cosmetics distributed in the market has increased and reached 33,823 products.

The increase, he indicated, was boosted by simplification of products' registration process, which could be done online.

"With the ASEAN harmonization, they do not need to register but send the notification online. It could be done in a day, that is why it has increased by 11.57 percent," he elaborated.

Sampurno reiterated the need for more attempts to stop the distribution of illegal cosmetics. "The meeting was attended by drugs supervisory agencies and producers from ASEAN member countries."

BPOM has intensified its investigation in the field and educate consumers on safe cosmetics.

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