Experts moot steps to check 'abuse' of consumer goods

A GOVERNMENT regulation on “proper labelling” of products and a campaign to make people aware of the severe consequences of “abusing” consumer goods would help end malpractices like people drinking after-shaves and other such things to get high, experts in the field as well as social activists have said.

Though most cosmetic products carry a list of ingredients, a good number of items imported into Qatar do not have either the expiration date or a list of the ingredients and in some cases, even the name of the country of its origin.

Toothpastes, bath soaps, foundation creams, shampoos, toilet cleaners and liquid hand wash are just some of the products that could be hazardous to people who are allergic to certain kinds of chemicals.

A ‘medicated’ toothpaste was found carrying no list of ingredients on its package. A make-up cream found at a hypermarket had no ingredients or country of origin printed on its container.

For example, Blue Moon, a particular brand of cologne made in Lebanon and sold at QR19 for a 500ml bottle, is “abused as hooch” by many low-income workers, who consume it after mixing it with soda. The label on the bottle says: Eau de Cologne 70 degrees.

“In the absence of directives regulating the import of such products, I would like to suggest the public to show more vigilance when buying such things,” said Salem al-Jabri, a Standard Specialist at the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology.

Salem further explained that most of the cosmetics and related products being imported to Qatar are from countries which are signatories to WTO conventions, and they follow regulations before exporting products overseas.

“Unlike edible items that are strictly monitored by authorities for date of produce and expiry and listing of ingredients, substantiating a cosmetic product is done on a voluntary basis by the manufacturer,” he said.

Salem said that his organization takes prompt action against any complaint and cited that recently action was taken against a toilet soap manufacturer as “they were found cheating customers”.

“We would like to educate and make public aware of the consequences of using products with no proper advisory, however,” he added.

Almost 1,000 chemicals are banned in the EU for use in cosmetic products, while only less than two dozen are banned in the USA, partly because of the way cosmetics and drugs are defined in respective consumer laws.

The Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) of USA defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body… for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance”.

Included in this definition are products such as skin moisturisers, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and facial makeup preparations, shampoos, hair colors, toothpastes, and deodorants, as well as any material intended for use as a component of a cosmetic product. But if a shampoo is sold as an anti-dandruff solution, that will make the shampoo a drug.

Duncan Inglis, an environmental, safety, and health manager for 25 years, said: “Even if a product has proper labels and warning to consumer, how a labourer wanting to use an after-shave as a hooch, is beyond my comprehension. Even though this is a case of substance abuse, putting clear warnings that these products are not meant for human consumption might prompt them to think twice,” he said.

Duncan added that even hypermarkets at time sell sub-standard products. “They are under a moral obligation not to offer these products to consumers,” he said.

A Thai embassy official said: “I’ve also come across products with no information and most of them are the cheap brands that do not have any suggestion about how the item was produced. The best thing the consumer can do is to be alert and cautious when purchasing such commodities”.

Rashida Khalid, a Pakistan embassy official agrees while pointing out that “from a health point of view, expiration date and listing of ingredients should be absolutely mandatory for manufacturers worldwide on all products”.

“People should realise that these products come into direct human contact and if a person is allergic to a chemical, the effects could be detrimental”.

Amanulla V, executive director of Indian Anti-Smoking Society, said there should be a law for proper labelling of products and the civic society along with educational institutions should educate the masses.

“Some dubious products will always make it to the supermarket shelves, and at the end of the day it will be for the consumers to make the right choice.

“What the government should do is initiate an awareness drive with the co-operation of all communities. Low-income workers should be given special attention, since they are more prone to use these products, which have long-term consequences on their health,” Amanullah said.

Syed Mohammed Kutub, a senior office-bearer of the Indian Islamic Association (IIA), which organises the largest annual medical camp for labourers, explained that most of these items come into the country from Dubai and are manufactured in China.

“We realise that Qatar cannot make the manufacturers re-formulate their products or enforce them to put labels mentioning ingredients, but there has to be a mechanism in play where respective municipalities conduct raids and confiscate the dubious items,” he said.

“A neatly packed product carrying no list of ingredients or expiration date should carry a clear warning: The safety of this product has not been determined, so the public can make its own choice,” Kutub said.