Kano Moves to Implement National Policy on Cosmetics Safety, Targets Harmful Skin Bleaching Products
By Aishat J. Ahmad Kano
The Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the Kano State Ministry of Health, with support from Resolve to Save Lives, has organised a stakeholders’ workshop on the implementation plan for the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health in Kano State.
In his welcoming address, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, explained that the policy is designed to regulate the cosmetics industry and protect the health of citizens from harmful products.
He noted that the increasing use of dangerous substances in beauty products, particularly skin bleaching creams, has become a public health concern that requires urgent regulatory attention and coordinated action from government and stakeholders.
Also speaking at the event, Dr.Paul Oka from the Food and Drugs Department of the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria said the policy was recently developed and launched at the national level and is now being cascaded to states, including Kano, to ensure its proper domestication and implementation.
He explained that the policy contains several provisions aimed at regulating the production, sale and use of cosmetic products, while also promoting safety standards and public awareness about harmful chemicals commonly found in some beauty products.
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In her remarks, Hauwa U. Shehu Yanleman, Assistant Desk Officer at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, raised concern over the sale of harmful cosmetic substances through social media platforms across Kano.
She explained that the agency is working to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve regulation of cosmetic products by entering the market in order to safeguard consumers.
Also speaking, Yusuf Muhammad Adamu, a professor at Bayero University Kano, said the workshop and domestication of the policy are necessary steps toward regulating the widespread use of bleaching creams and other unsafe beauty products in the state.
He stressed that effective enforcement of the policy will help reduce health risks associated with harmful cosmetic substances and promote safer alternatives in the beauty industry.
In his contribution, Ibrahim Sani Ikon Allah, chairman of the association of cosmetics sellers at Abubakar Rimi Market, expressed optimism that the policy would benefit both consumers and legitimate cosmetics businesses.
He noted that proper regulation would help sanitise the cosmetics market, protect traders dealing in approved products, and ensure safer beauty practices across Kano State.
Pulse Time Nigeria reports that,the workshop, held at Bizarre Hotel, aimed at strengthening state-level coordination for effective implementation of the national policy through stakeholder engagement, needs assessment, and development of a Kano-specific action plan.
Participants noted that the policy seeks to address the growing trend of skin bleaching and the use of dangerous substances in cosmetic products, which experts say can cause serious health complications.
The meeting brought together different stakeholders including cosmetics traders, academia, dermatology experts, government officials and representatives of regulatory agencies to deliberate on the implementation strategy within Kano State.