CHINA. Procter & Gamble (P&G) has insisted its premium SK-II range – sales of which were suspended in China last week after authorities found traces of potentially harmful chemicals chromium and neodymium in certain products – is safe.
“We’re completely confident in the safety of SK-II,” said P&G in a statement. “SK-II products comply with safety standards and regulations set by the FDA, HealthCanada, and the E.U.
“The Chinese government recently raised questions about two elements found at trace levels in SK-II products. SK-II does not add these elements as ingredients in any of our products. It is common for trace amounts of these minerals to show up in consumer products – they are naturally occurring elements that can be found in anything from tap water to vitamins. For example, the amount of chromium that you would get from use of SK-II products is 100 times less than what the World Health Organization considers safe in your everyday diet.”
The statement continued: “P&G product safety scientists conducted analyses of SK-II products and have concluded that the levels reported by the CIQ [China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine] do not represent a safety concern. Our testing also included other popular skin care brands and showed they, too, contain similar low and safe levels of these trace elements.
“SK-II has strict quality control processes in place and consumers around the world can continue to use SK-II products with full confidence.”
Moreover, P&G added that the Hong Kong Custom and Excise Dept & the Department of Health’s new testing results confirmed that SK-II products were safe and not harmful.
News of the chemicals’ discovery, and subsequent product withdrawal, has provoked a swift reaction from Chinese consumers, who have been flocking to SK-II counters to demand refunds.
There have been reports of angry scenes in-store, and outside P&G’s Shanghai office.
MORE ON SK-II
Nuance-Watson launches SK-II skincare & cosmetics at Singapore Changi airport – 04/05/04
