On October 1, 2026, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) issued a media statement reporting that a skin cream cosmetic had been detected to contain a scheduled poison—mercury. The notification for the cosmetic concerned has been cancelled by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health Malaysia, and the product is no longer allowed to be sold in Malaysia.
About the Scheduled Poison -Mercury
In Malaysia, mercury is a prohibited substance in cosmetics. It can be absorbed into the human body and cause damage to the kidneys and the nervous system; it may also interfere with the brain development of young children and unborn babies; in addition, it can cause rash, irritation and other skin changes.
Warning to Sellers and Distributors
Sellers and distributors of the cosmetic concerned must immediately cease its sale and distribution. Selling and distributing this cosmetic violates Malaysia's Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984. The specific penalties are as follows:
- Individuals: a fine not exceeding RM25,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or both, for the first offence; a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both, for any subsequent offence;
- Companies: a fine not exceeding RM50,000 for the first offence; a fine not exceeding RM100,000 for any subsequent offence.
Reminder to the Public
Members of the public who are using this cosmetic are advised to stop using it immediately, and to seek advice from healthcare professionals if any discomfort or adverse effects occur. The public may check the notification status of a cosmetic and the list of cosmetics whose notifications have been cancelled on NPRA's official website.
CIRS Reminder
Malaysia implements a notification management system for cosmetics. Under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 and the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD), cosmetics must be notified to the NPRA before being placed on the market. Mercury is a prohibited substance: once detected, the notification of the product concerned will be cancelled and its sale prohibited, and the parties involved may also face penalties. In recent years, Malaysia has reported multiple cases of mercury being illegally added to whitening cosmetics.
CIRS reminds cosmetics companies concerned to strictly avoid using prohibited ingredients such as mercury and its compounds in product formulations, and to strengthen the quality control of both raw materials and finished products. Companies should also follow up on NPRA's regulatory updates and verify the compliance status of their products notified in Malaysia in a timely manner.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.
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