TINAWAG ng EcoWaste Coalition ang pansin ng Baguio City government kaugnay ng iligal umanong pagbebenta ng mga smuggled at mapanganib na cosmetics products sa Central Business District ng lungsod.
Sumulat ang EcoWaste kay Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong matapos itong makabili ng 15 skin whitening cream sa mga tindahan sa siyudad. Ang mga ito ay mayroong halong mercury na mapanganib sa kalusugan.
“As part of our continuing advocacy in support of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which, among other things, has set a 2020 phase-out of cosmetics with mercury content above 1 part per million, the EcoWaste Coalition conducted yet another test buy of such products that are being sold in Baguio City,” ani Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner.
Ang mga nabiling produkto ay imported, hindi rehistrado at hindi dumaan sa pagsusuri ng Food and Drug Administration pero mabibili umano sa iba’t ibang tindahan sa Baguio.
Ayon sa World Health Organization ang mercury ay maaaring pumasok sa balat at magdulot ng kidney damage bukod pa sa pangangati at pag-iba ng kulay ng balat.
“In pursuit of the general welfare provision of the Local Government Code and in order to promote the health and safety of your constituents and the environment, we request your office to do what is necessary to stop the trade of dangerous cosmetics containing mercury in your city,” ani Dizon.