The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has suspended the licenses of six beauty cream brands after they were found to be in violation of safety and quality standards, including the presence of hazardous substances such as mercury.
According to a written reply by Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi, the products failed to comply with Pakistan Standard Specification 3228 2025, which sets safety limits for cosmetic products in the country.
The suspended brands include Golden Pearl Beauty Cream, Parley 24K Gold Beauty Cream, Goree Beauty Cream, and Face Fresh Beauty Cream, among others. The products were tested during routine market surveillance, and samples were sent to the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for laboratory analysis.
According to the test reports, the creams did not meet the required safety and quality specifications, with concerns linked to mercury, arsenic, and microbiological contamination. Authorities said these substances pose serious health risks and can lead to skin damage and other medical complications.
Following the findings, the government has prohibited the manufacturing, stocking, and sale of skin creams that do not meet the prescribed standards. The PSQCA said licenses will remain suspended until manufacturers bring their products in line with regulatory requirements.
The authority added that continuous market monitoring is underway to ensure that non-compliant products are removed from sale, as part of wider efforts to protect consumer health and improve safety standards in the cosmetics market.
Aoa
This means that the products or creams that are made in Pakistan are not tested first, they are made first and then a ban is imposed on them. So, in order to launch all the creams in Pakistan, there is no obvious thing to do before bringing them to the market, such as testing laboratories, etc., will they be certified, then there is a certificate, etc. or something that can be done later, then when you go and do it, you should understand, right? You should launch it first and then a ban is imposed on it in Pakistan, saying that it has been tested in terms of laboratories, so this is not good.
Is there any Notification, Order, Circular any thing in OFFICIALLY WRITTEN by the MINISTER or any GOVT. OFFICIAL?
If yes… please share its copy too here
The funny thing is, Mercury and arsenic have been used in ancient skin whitening cream centuries ago and caused health problems then as well. International Pharmacology has known this since 85-100 years ago.