Mozambique burns 'cancer-causing' cosmetics

Following a warning from the European Union, 10,000 cosmetic products that represent a "possible risk" to health have been burned by Mozambican authorities.

Shower gels, shampoos, creams, and sprays are among the available goods.

According to the authorities, they include chemicals that can lead to cancer, impair reproductive health, and perhaps result in infertility.

Sheila Mercis, an inspector with the nation's pharmaceuticals regulatory authority, claimed that the EU had issued a warning against the items in early September (Anarme).

Paulo Aguiar, a director of Medis Moçambique, which is owned by the Portuguese pharmaceutical company Azevedos, claimed that via incineration, "we are assuring that, at least in the market, there will no longer be any [dangerous] items for sale."

According to Medis, the makers have already submitted revised formulations of the contested cosmetics to Anarme for approval so that they may once more be imported "without the dangerous components."

"All European producers have already stopped producing the [harmful] chemical. These compounds won't be present in the upcoming batches, according to Mr. Aguiar.