Skin bleaching products. Photo: The African Voice/File
Juba, January 22, 2019 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s Drugs and Food Control Authority (DFCA) says it has banned importation and sale of all skin bleaching or lightening products, a statement obtained by the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) shows.
In the statement, DFCA’s Secretary General, Mawien Atem Mawien, explains that skin lightening products have been used in South Sudan without discrimination, but asserts that skin bleaching is causing major health issues in the country and warned of punishment of people or companies that will violate the new order.
“All the whitening or bleaching creams are prohibited for import without any approval from DFCA, most especially those that contain mercury and hydroquinone,” Mawien declares.
“It is very clear that cosmetics are being used in South Sudan without any discrimination despite the fact that they contain so many chemicals. No cosmetics will be brought to the Republic of South Sudan without the approval of DFCA. Anything outside the right channel will be deemed illegal,” he added.
South Sudan joins many other African countries which have already banned all skin lightening products.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says most skin bleaching are harmful and contain poisonous chemicals such as mercury and many other chemicals. Skin bleaching has been widely associated with skin cancer and other diseases.
1 comment. Leave new
A right decision taken by the government …..People should not follow the world specially the west as it destroyed the originalalty of the country