Taiwan FDA plans to ban cancer causing estrogens usage in cosmetics

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to impose a ban on the use of three cancer-causing estrogens in cosmetics from 1 May 2016.

As per the plans, the agency will prohibit the import, manufacture, sale and supply of cosmetics featuring estradiol, estrone and ethinyl estradiol.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared estradiol, estrone and ethinyl estradiol, as Class I carcinogens in 2012.

The European Union, Canada and ASEAN members have already banned the use of the three ingredients in cosmetics.

Taiwan however has a control list under which manufacture or importing cosmetics featuring estradiol, estrone and ethinyl estradiol needs a permit.

The production, distribution or sale of products that have the banned ingredients would attract a fine of about NT$150,000, or a sentence of up to one year.

The agency’s move follows recent bans on the usage of estrogen in cosmetics by several governments across the world.