LONDON: Hazardous illegal cosmetics have been seized following raids by trading standards officers from Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Four shops in Shepherd’s Bush were targeted as part of a crackdown on illicit skin-lightening products, resulting in the seizure of more than 500 products containing mercury and hydroquinone, according to the council.
The value of the goods seized is estimated at £3,000 to £4,000.
Mercury can damage the kidney, liver and brain, and hydroquinone is banned from cosmetic products.
“We are clamping down on the trade of potentially dangerous cosmetics and continue to uncover businesses that are flouting government requirements to ensure these products are correctly labelled and safe for consumers,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, council cabinet member for environment, transport and residents’ services.
“We are eager to work with businesses to ensure local residents and visitors to the borough are not put at risk.”
Trading standards officers are now making new investigations and tests, after identifying a number of new leads, obtained during the raids.
Businesses are required to ensure products have the correct labelling, including a name and address within Europe. The maximum penalty for failing to provide this information is a £20,000 fine and 12-months imprisonment, per offence.
Anyone concerned about the safety of a cosmetics product should report the matter to the Hammersmith & Fulham Trading Standards team on 020 8753 1081.
