MANILA, Philippines?The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday banned the importation and sale of five cosmetic products from Taiwan and Japan after they were found to contain ?excessive? amounts of mercury.

FDA Director Nazarita Tacandong said the four cosmetic products from Taiwan and another one from Japan were banned because their mercury content posed an ?imminent danger? to the consumers.

?(These products) contain heavy metal (mercury) exceeding the allowable limit of 1 ppm (part per million). These cosmetic products therefore pose imminent danger or injury to the consuming public and the importation, selling or offering for sale of such is in direct violation of...the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009,? Tacandong said.

The FDA said the banned beauty products from Taiwan included Beauty Girl Papaya and Hawthorn Essence (10 Double Whitening Speckles Removed Essence); Beauty Girl Ginseng and Green Cucumber (10 Double Whitening Speckles Removed); Beauty Girl Essence Aloe Pearl (10 Double Whitening Speckles Removed Essence); and Beauty Girl Olive and Sheep Essence (10 Double Whitening Speckles Removed Essence).

These products are being manufactured by Yudantang International. On the other hand, the Tokyo-based product was identified as St. Dalfour Beauty Whitening Cream, the agency added.

Tacandong said she had ordered FDA operatives to seize these banned products to stop them from being sold to the public.

She added that they had also asked local government officials to help in monitoring the products in the market.

Those who violate the FDA directive would be fined P50,000 to P500,000 ?and/or closure? of the erring establishment found guilty importing or selling the banned products.