Ghana to ban beauty products containing hydroquinone

The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) of Ghana has announced a ban on beauty products that contain hydroquinone, a skin cleaning agent.

This ban will come into effect starting August this year, reported Globalcosmeticsnews.com.

FDA spokesperson James Lartey told GhanaStar: "Concerning skin lightening products, we are saying that from August 2016, all products containing hydroquinone will not be allowed into the country.

"From 2016, the acceptance for skin lightening products is going to be zero."

The bleaching ingredient is primarily used in skin creams to lighten the skin tone.

In past few years, several countries have prohibited the use of hydroquinone, which can cause irritation, blistering and even skin cancer.

In Africa, the countries that have banned the use of skin bleaching agents include Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, reported Cosmeticsbusiness.com.

Outside Africa, several countries such as the US, Australia, Japan and EU have already banned the use of hydroquinone agent in comsetics.

The Uganda National Board of Standards earlier this year has also imposed a ban on imported cosmetics that include ingredients such as hydroquinone and mercury.