PRESS KIT

“WHO calls for urgent action on mercury as one of the top chemicals of public health concern. The health impacts of mercury have been known for centuries but more people should become aware now,” said Dr Annette Prüss, Acting Director, WHO Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.  “Countries should urgently act to take legal action against harmful practices so that this dangerous element is eliminated from skin lightening products that people use every day.”

The three-year project will bring the countries together to align their policies on the cosmetic sector with best practice, creating an enabling environment to phase out mercury and attempting to shift broader cultural norms on skin complexion through engaging organisations, healthcare professionals and influencers working in the field.

Sema Jonsson, founder of project co-financier the Pantheon of Women Who Inspire, said the organisation wanted people to admire and be proud of their natural skin tone.

“We are all beautiful,” Jonsson said. “Not in spite of our skin but because of it.”

“We need a new ideal to follow, one which is equated with humanity and not the fairness of one’s skin.”

“While Governments have agreed limitations on mercury use through the Minamata Convention, companies continue to manufacture, trade and sell toxic products to consumers”, she said. “UNEP is proud to work with these three countries, as well as a passionate set of co-financing partners to transform the industry.”

“WHO calls for urgent action on mercury as one of the top chemicals of public health concern. The health impacts of mercury have been known for centuries but more people should become aware now,” said Dr Annette Prüss, Acting Director, WHO Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. 

“Countries should urgently act to take legal action against harmful practices so that this dangerous element is eliminated from skin lightening products that people use every day.”

Sema Jonsson, founder of project co-financier the Pantheon of Women Who Inspire, said the organisation wanted people to admire and be proud of their natural skin tone.

“We are all beautiful,” Jonsson said. “Not in spite of our skin but because of it.”

“We need a new ideal to follow, one which is equated with humanity and not the fairness of one’s skin.”

The three-year-long project will bring the countries together to align their policies on the cosmetic industry with best practices, create a conducive environment to phase out mercury and attempt to change cultural norms on skin complexion.

Sema Jonsson, founder of the Pantheon of Women Who Inspire, said the alliance wanted people to admire and be proud of their natural skin tone. “We are all beautiful, not in spite of our skin but because of it,” said Jonsson.

Mercury poisoning is rampant among skin-lightening and anti-ageing creams marketed online through sites like eBay, Alibaba and Amazon, according to 2022 analysis by Zero Mercury Working Group.

Over a 13-month period, the working group examined 271 goods purchased in 15 different countries and discovered that over half of them were tainted with hazardous levels of mercury exceeding the US legal limit of 1 ppm.

“It’s really concerning that these online manufacturers continue to sell and flaunt and profit from illegal products that are doing significant damage to consumers,” Michael Bender, international coordinator with the Mercury Policy Project, told the Guardian.