The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has received two modern mobile mercury analyzers worth Rs. 1.8 million, donated under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen consumer protection efforts.
The devices were officially handed over at the Ministry of Trade, in the presence of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, CAA Director General Samantha Karunaratne, and other officials.
The mobile analyzers will enable authorities to rapidly test mercury levels in cosmetic products, particularly skin-lightening items sold in the market.
According to the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the maximum permissible mercury content in cosmetics is one milligram per kilogram. However, previous CAA tests have found some products exceeding this limit.
With the new devices, officials can conduct on-the-spot testing within five to ten minutes, without the need for additional chemicals, making the process faster and more cost-effective.
Authorities say the initiative will help curb the circulation of counterfeit and unsafe cosmetic products, protecting consumers from potential health risks.
CAA officers have already received technical training, and islandwide testing operations are expected to begin soon.