Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has called for a stop to the sale of lipstick products reportedly contaminated with lead and their removal from the market, in time for the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this October.
EcoWaste made the call on Wednesday as the nation marks the Consumer Welfare Month, while the lead poisoning prevention week will occur from October 19 to 25.
The group’s statement also followed the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) issuance of six advisories warning the public against the purchase and use of imported Qianxiu lipsticks that are illegally being sold without the required authorization.
Among the Qianxiu Lipstciks flagged by the FDA are Hello Kitty #07 (pink canister), #06 (black canister), #03 (black canister), #11 (pink canister), #10 (pink canister) and #02 (black canister) through Advisory Numbers No. 2025-0927, 2025-0928, 2025-0929, 2025-0946, 2025-0947 and 2025-0948.
‘Sold for P35 each or three for P100, the Qianxiu lipsticks were found laden with up to 43,640 parts per million (ppm) of lead, way above the 20 ppm limit for lead as a heavy metal contaminant under the Asean Cosmetic Directive (ACD),’ EcoWaste said in a statement on Wednesday.
‘We urge consumers not to use Qianxiu and other unauthorized lipsticks from dubious sources and with unknown composition as they may contain banned ingredients like lead, which is a well-documented neurological and reproductive toxicant. We further urge government regulators to have these toxic lipsticks removed from the market,’ said EcoWaste National Coordinator Aileen Lucero.
Based on the X-Ray fluorescence screening it conducted, the group found that Qianxiu #02, #03, and #06 (black canisters) contained 17,690 ppm, 43,640 ppm, and 31,520 ppm of lead, respectively. Moreover, Qianxiu #07, #10, and #11 (pink canisters) contained 13,610 ppm, 27,390 ppm, and 9,640 ppm of lead, respectively.
The group revealed that Qianxiu lipsticks were among the products it reported to the agency last March for containing ‘high levels of lead.’
EcoWaste added that Qianxiu lipstick has no certificate notification, which means that the products under this brand are being sold without the necessary quality and safety assessment by the FDA.
The group noted that this violates the Republic Act No. 9711 or the FDA Act of 2009.
‘The science indicates there is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead is a neurotoxicant and can be dangerous even at small doses. Medical experts are clear that any level of lead exposure is unhealthy,’ EcoWaste said, quoting a report from the US-based advocacy group.
It warned that lead is a known endocrine-disrupting chemical and can cause hormonal changes among women, menstrual irregularities, reduced fertility, and a host of other health problems that may also affect unborn babies.