SLSI to standardise beauty products
The genies in jars and tubes may have to step up their game with new edicts round the corner. The Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) will be setting the standards for all cosmetics entering the Sri Lankan shores.
SLSI Chairman Nushad Perera told the Business Times in a recent interview that the SLSI will be setting new benchmarks for cosmetics entering the country – ruling out heavy metals’ elements in them.
In cosmetics, high mercury levels are common in products that promise to fade dark spots, blemishes etc and is used by cosmetic manufacturing companies as it’s also a cheap skin-lightening ingredient which effectively removes dark spots and lightens the skin tone.
Its rapid results offset the benefits. So far the cosmetic manufacturing companies and their marketers have been minting money with this fact oblivious to the masses, but SLSI will be issuing standards prohibiting such beauty products. Lipsticks, hair dyes, baby hair oils and baby shampoos will be set higher standards by the SLSI, Mr. Perera explained, noting that 28 standards on cosmetic will be issued.
Resistance will be high as cosmetic manufacturing companies’ costs will effectively rise but it must be done, was what SLSI officials joining the discussion said in unison.
The technical committee on cosmetics ISO/TC 217 which is the key ISO body for the beauty sector has set a standard for measuring traces of heavy metals in cosmetics; and two standards on testing for mercury in beauty products. The SLSI guidelines will also be in line with these requirements, the officials said noting that the world’s standards organisations offer a collective database of good practice and expertise that no real personal care product company can ignore.