Philippine Group Welcomes Pakistan's Moves to Tighten Cosmetic Regulations

• The EcoWaste Coalition, a Philippines-based environmental health group, has welcomed the Pakistan Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology's approval of the Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill of 2026.
• The bill aims to establish a rigorous regulatory framework to eliminate the production and export of mercury-laden skin-lightening products.
• EcoWaste Coalition, which has previously identified 45 Pakistan-made products with hazardous mercury levels, views this as a significant step toward meeting Minamata Convention standards.

Regulatory Framework and Enforcement

• The 2026 bill empowers a strengthened Pakistan General Cosmetics Regulatory Authority (PGCRA) to monitor the entire cosmetic lifecycle, including manufacturing, import, export, and quality standardization.
• New procedures for product registration, inspection, sampling, and seizure are introduced to ensure consumer protection.
• Prohibited activities include the manufacture, distribution, and sale of unregistered, sub-standard, or counterfeit cosmetics, as well as false labeling.
• Violators face up to seven years in prison, fines of up to five million rupees, or both, alongside the potential for facility sealing and machinery confiscation.

Ongoing Market Concerns

• Despite the 2017 Pakistan Standard (PS: 3228-2017) setting a 1 ppm mercury limit, illegal products continue to circulate, with many improperly displaying the Pakistan Standard Quality Mark.
• The legislation follows a period of regulatory instability, including the dissolution of the previous PGCRA in January 2025.
• EcoWaste Coalition continues to conduct market investigations and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screenings, reporting its findings to authorities to push for stricter enforcement of safety standards.