The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by eliminating substandard cosmetic products and ensuring that all cosmetics used in Nigeria meet approved safety standards.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, made this known in Abuja during the inauguration of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health.
Kachollom said the policy was introduced in response to growing health concerns linked to unsafe cosmetic products in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding beauty and personal care industry.
She explained that the widespread circulation of harmful cosmetics poses serious short- and long-term health risks, including skin diseases, cancer, hormonal disorders and kidney damage, often caused by toxic substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals.
According to her, the new policy provides a legal and institutional framework for regulating cosmetics in Nigeria, including the establishment of a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group, to ensure all products manufactured, imported and distributed in the country comply with safety standards and global best practices.