ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has launched a crackdown on substandard skin-whitening creams after discovering dangerous levels of mercury in several popular brands.

According to CCP, these creams—often marketed with claims of “fairness,” “glow,” and “lightening”—contain banned amounts of mercury, a substance prohibited in cosmetics in many countries. The commission noted that manufacturers do not disclose the use of mercury in their marketing or product labels.

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Experts warn that mercury in cosmetics poses severe health risks, including neurological disorders, skin diseases, and kidney damage.

The CCP said companies found selling such skin-whitening creams could face penalties of up to Rs70 million. It further stressed that substandard products not only endanger public health but also hurt compliant companies offering safe and quality products.