Increase the supervision of children's cosmetics (people's attention)
Shi Yiqi Zhou Siyu
Ms. Yang, a reader from Chengdu, Sichuan, wrote in a recent letter that her 5-year-old daughter was affected by TV dramas and cartoons and requested to buy a set of children’s cosmetics.
However, she has doubts about the quality and safety of children's cosmetics on the market, and she does not know how to deal with her daughter's request.
A reader from Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, Mr. Chang also wrote to say that after using children's cosmetics purchased from e-commerce platforms, children have had skin allergies, itching and other adverse reactions. The doctor said that this may be related to the allergens and hormones in the cosmetics.
At present, cosmetics sales are showing a trend of younger age, and the children's cosmetics market is becoming increasingly hot.
According to data released by an e-commerce platform, the sales volume of children's cosmetics has increased by 300% year-on-year, and "post-85s" mothers are the main buying force.
However, behind the prosperity of the children's cosmetics market, there are hidden safety hazards and large regulatory blind spots.
"Children's skin structure and physiological characteristics are very different from those of adults, which are mainly manifested in thinner skin, fewer hairs, fewer sweat glands, abundant subcutaneous blood vessels, and weaker ability to resist external stimuli." Life Science and Technology of Jinan University Professor Liu Zhong of the college pointed out that children’s cosmetics have higher quality requirements and require stricter supervision. If children’s cosmetics have problems such as excessive microbes and illegal addition of allergic ingredients, it will cause children’s skin infections, allergies, damage, and damage to the development of bones and organs. Damage, hormone-dependent dermatitis and even precocious puberty.
Liu Zhong believes that there are currently regulatory loopholes in the children’s cosmetics industry: first, the formula of children’s cosmetics lacks sufficient scientific data on the safety of raw materials; second, children’s cosmetics use exaggerated or false propaganda in product descriptions, and "disguise" children’s cosmetics as toys. Wait.
The reporter found in some online children's cosmetics stores that some children's cosmetics were not qualified, and the test reports displayed in some stores were hidden in tricks. They were sent for inspection and filing under the name of "toys" in an attempt to blur the boundaries between dress-up toys and cosmetics.
In order to regulate the children’s cosmetics industry, regulatory authorities have taken relevant measures one after another——
Since March of this year, the Shanxi Provincial Drug Administration has carried out centralized rectification of children's and infant cosmetics, and severely cracked down on illegal additions, counterfeiting, and other violations of laws and regulations.
The Xiamen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau of Fujian Province carried out a special inspection of children’s cosmetics, and carried out post-registration supervision and inspection of 1,225 products, focusing on verifying whether the formulas and inspection reports of children’s cosmetics products meet safety requirements, and whether the product information and the filing materials are consistent and legal... …
In June of this year, the National Medical Products Administration publicly solicited opinions on the supervision and management of children’s cosmetics. The specific content included the classification of raw materials that are not allowed to be used, the requirement to pass safety assessment and toxicological tests, and the need for product quality safety and efficacy Declare the responsible subject and introduce exclusive signs for children’s cosmetics, etc.
In this regard, Liu Zhong said: "The introduction of special supervision regulations for children's cosmetics will form an effective deterrent to illegal additions, exaggerated or false propaganda, and changes in product forms and forms of sales, and will play an important guiding role in regulating the children's cosmetics market. Suggested formulation More refined standards, such as the list of raw materials for children’s cosmetics and the list of prohibited and restricted substances that include safe dosage ranges.
At the same time, raising parents' awareness of safety and health is also a key part of ensuring the safety of children's makeup.
“Parents should be guided to correctly understand children’s cosmetics and the correct purchase and use of children’s cosmetics.” Liu Zhong said, suggesting that parents should not buy children’s cosmetics through informal channels such as online toy stores. The bureau’s official website queries the product registration information.
For some children with allergies, parents should be more cautious in choosing children’s cosmetics, and do a skin test on the arm and other parts before use to avoid health risks caused by allergies.