KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Nepal Council for Standardization (NCS) have determined criteria for cosmetic items produced, imported, being sold in the country.
A meeting of the NCS took the decision to this effect with an aim to curbing production, sales and use of the cosmetic products containing harmful elements such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cobalt, cadmium, among others in high ratio.
Ram Charitra Shah, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development, said that the criteria include a few requirements such as limits of alkalinity or acidity in the cosmetic products, packaging, microbial contamination, samplings, labeling, and testing procedures.
According to him, the toxic chemicals and compounds in beauty products can affect the nervous system, hearing power, memory power, and reproductive system.
Such chemicals also pose a risk to pregnant women and children, and their growth could be impeded.
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