BALITANG TOKSIK! | May 10, 2023

Toxic watchdog BAN Toxics (BT) sounded the alarm over the selling of “Kiddie Fashion Nails” despite the ban issued by the Food and Drug Administration due to the presence of adhesive containing dibutyl phthalate – a known endocrine disruptor.

In the recent market monitoring conducted by BT Patrollers, the group had purchased a pack of kiddie fashion nails with adhesive tube, and being sold for P80 pesos for a pack of 20 pieces.

“A group of chemicals, phthalates are primarily used to soften and improve the flexibility and durability of plastics. Some are also used as solvents and stabilizers in product formulations including personal care products and cosmetics. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, and exposure to phthalates has been linked to breast cancer, developmental issues, decreased fertility, obesity and asthma,” according to the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.

In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration issued FDA Advisory 2015-006, a public health warning against unnotified kiddie fashion nails with nail adhesive containing dibutyl phthalate (DBP). The substance is a banned ingredient included on the List of Substances which “Must not Form Part of the Composition of Cosmetic Products” (Annex II Part I Ref. No. 675) of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD).

Dibutyl Phthalate has the ability to cause allergic reactions, it can induce a state of hypersensitivity in the immune system. 

Lawmakers (Congress and Senate) has filed several bills – An act prohibiting the sale of toys and other articles containing phthalates from 2009 to 2016, which seek to prohibit the sale and use of toys containing any measurable amount of phthalates greater than zero point one percent (0.1%) by mass of the plasticized material, in toys and child-care articles: (a) Di (2-ethlyhexyl) phthalates (DEHP); (b) Dibutyl phthalate (DBP); (c) Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP); (d) Diisononyl phthalate (DINP); (e) Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP); and (f) Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP).

 “We urge the Senate and Congress to prioritize bills that will protect the public, especially children from toxic exposure in toys and other childcare articles,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner, BAN Toxics.

“The continued selling of kiddie fashion nails with toxic phthalates pose an imminent danger among children that requires a more stringent regulation in the country,” the group added.

The FDA has ordered to monitor, conduct inventory and seize all cosmetics products that have no FDA Certificate of Production Notification. Likewise, all local government units are requested to ensure that cosmetic products that do not have market authorization are not sold or offered for sale by ambulant and sidewalk vendors.

References:

https://www.bcpp.org/resource/phthalates/
https://www.fda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FDA-Advisory-No.-2015-006.pdf
https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1354611960!.pdf
https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/90877632!.pdf