Cosmetics tests to take backseat to milk, food tests - BFAD

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) will test cosmetics products for possible toxic substances, but only after it finishes its tests on food and milk products. BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez stressed Monday that food products will have priority over the cosmetics, especially with more than 200 food products still lined up for testing. "Siguro random sampling din kami at ite-test namin kung nilagyan nila ng di dapat ilagay na ingredient o component. Pero ang masasabi ko lang sa panahong ito, ang priority muna natin ang pagkain lalo na ang gatas (We will conduct random sampling on cosmetic products for toxic components. But for now our priority is to test food and milk products for melamine)," Gutierrez said in an interview on dzXL radio. She said that as of early Monday, they are still on schedule to release their findings in time for the Health department to announce by Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Gutierrez said BFAD laboratory technicians had been working around the clock all weekend to test the milk and milk-based samples. On Sunday, a group of lawmakers asked the BFAD to test cosmetic products for possible toxic substances. Gutierrez said this falls within the BFAD's mandate. "Yan kailangan din naming tuunan ng pansin. Padadaanan din namin, kailangan din naming i-check. Sa Asean group meron kaming listahan ano lang ang pwedeng ilagay sa cosmetics (We have to act on that. We have to check those cosmetic products. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has a list of substances that are allowed in cosmetic products)," she said. - GMANews.TV