Govt Launches Crackdown Against These Whitening Creams

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has launched a nationwide crackdown on companies producing and selling skin whitening creams containing dangerous levels of mercury, in a bid to protect consumers and restore fair play in the cosmetics market. The CCP’s Office of Fair Trade and Market Intelligence Unit uncovered that several widely available whitening creams. Both in stores and online, are laced with mercury, a toxic substance linked to kidney damage, neurological disorders, and severe skin diseases.  Many of these products, the CCP found, are marketed as “safe” and “effective,” while concealing their mercury content from ingredient labels. Despite a global ban on mercury in cosmetics, the Pakistani market remains flooded with creams promising “fairness,” “glow,” and “lightening”, often under misleading claims.  The CCP has invoked Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits false or deceptive marketing and carries penalties of up to Rs. 75 million or 10% of a company’s annual turnover. The Commission has initiated enforcement action against all companies found selling or promoting these hazardous products, warning that such practices not only put public health at risk but also distort competition by giving violators an unfair edge. Consumers are strongly advised to stop using any whitening creams suspected of containing mercury and to report deceptive advertising or unsafe products via the CCP’s Online Complaint Portal. The CCP’s move marks a significant step toward cleaning up Pakistan’s cosmetics market and safeguarding consumer health.