SK-II Cosmetic May Stay On The Shelves In Malaysia

PENANG, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Procter and Gamble Co., the largest United States consumer products maker, may not have to halt sale of the SK-II cosmetic in Malaysia after a government official said the product "should be safe" for consumers.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Ministry Datuk Lee Kah Choon told reporters here the Japanese-made SK-II cosmetic "should be safe if used according to instruction".
"(Our quality check) showed traces of chemical on SK-II but the amount is very small. I am not saying the product is safe or not safe but whatever it is consumers should always be careful when using any cosmetic product," he said.
Three days ago, Procter and Gamble Co. (P&G) halted sales of the SK-II cosmetic in China after health regulators said they found traces of chromium and neodymium in the cosmetic.
Chromium, a metallic element, is used in the production of stainless steel and in pigments to prevent tarnish and corrosion. Neodymium is a rare earth metal that is used for colouring glass and whitening.
Scientists have reportedly said that a small amount of these substances will not pose a health risk to cosmetic users.
SK-II is made and sold in Japan and exported to more than 10 countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia.