Women in the Philippines are being warned against using unlicensed Chinese-made lipsticks and other big brand imitation products, over fears they may contain high levels of lead.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an advisory, after it was found many products were being sold widely on the streets without its approval.
"These products may contain high levels of heavy metals, especially lead," it said.
The advisory warned that lead has been linked to causing high blood pressure, joint pain and poor memory in adults, while children are even more at risk.
"The children are particularly at risk from neurotoxic effects of lead, which affect their brain development and cognition," it said.
The lipsticks carry the labels Baolishi, Miss Beauty, Shijing, Ling Mei and Heng Fang.
The FDB did not reveal how the products came to the Philippines but it has previously acknowledged smuggling remains a problem because of corruption within the customs bureau.
This is not the first time the FDA has banned Chinese products from being sold in the Philippines.
In 2010, it banned at least nine Chinese brands of skin creams and whiteners that were found to contain high levels of mercury.
AFP
