June 13, Colombo (LNW): The Health Ministry and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) are actively seeking to tackle issues surrounding the proliferation of unregulated beauty products and cosmetics sold in Sri Lanka.
The move has been taken following concerns raised by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).
The GMOA’s recent appeal prompted the Health Ministry and NMRA to convene stakeholders to explore avenues for strengthening legal frameworks and regulatory standards, aiming to mitigate significant public health risks associated with substandard products, including skin ailments.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge stressed the need for collaborative efforts in addressing this pressing health concern, citing inadequacies in the current NMRA Act to effectively combat the issue.
Dr. Aluthge underscored the importance of adhering to scientific guidelines in manufacturing beauty and cosmetic products to ensure their safety and efficacy within existing legal frameworks.
A senior Health Ministry official acknowledged the existing legal provisions within the NMRA Act, which prohibit the importation and distribution of unregistered cosmetics and devices, as well as manufacturing and storing cosmetics without proper registration and adherence to approved standards.
Despite regulatory measures, the official admitted the persistent influx of unregistered cosmetics into the market through various channels, necessitating concerted action.
In response, the Health Ministry is proactively engaging in discussions with relevant stakeholders to address these challenges and safeguard public health.
