Toxic Skin-Lightening Products Persist on E-Commerce Platforms Despite Global Bans

• The EcoWaste Coalition has condemned the rampant online sale of mercury-laced Goree Beauty Cream, which continues to be marketed despite numerous government bans.
• The watchdog group identified the products available on major platforms including Lazada, Shopee, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, noting they operate in violation of platform community guidelines and national health regulations.
• Advocacy groups are calling for e-commerce sites to block these sales and for regulators to enforce stricter monitoring for a mercury-free digital marketplace.

Health and Environmental Hazards

• Mercury exposure from skin-lightening products is linked to severe health issues, including skin damage, scarring, and long-term harm to the renal, nervous, immune, and digestive systems, as well as mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
• Numerous countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, and the USA, have banned Goree products. Most recently, India's Maharashtra FDA warned against these creams in July 2026.

Regulatory and Ethical Concerns

• The continued trade of these items violates the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which explicitly forbids the manufacturing, import, and export of mercury-added cosmetics.
• Advocates emphasize that the marketing of these products exploits deep-seated societal biases regarding skin color, deceiving consumers into using toxic chemicals.