KUALA LUMPUR: Six cosmetic products found to contain poisonous chemicals must be removed from the shelves as soon as possible.

In issuing the warning, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he would give companies 30 days to recall the banned products.

“Those with stock should immediately stop the sale, distribution and use of the products,” he told reporters yesterday after attending Polar Ice Cream Sdn Bhd’s 22nd anniversary celebration and launching its new factory in Balakong.

On Thursday, the Ministry’s pharmaceutical services department had issued a warning to remove the products after they were found to contain tretinoin and hydroquinone.

Its senior director Eisah A. Rahman said that tretinoin could cause skin redness, discomfort, peeling and hypersensitivity to the sun while hydroquinone could cause depigmentation and increase the risk of skin cancer.

The six products were Temulawak whitening pearl cream papaya, Ratna whitening cream papaya, Atika beauty renewal night cream, Chatique whitening night cream, NV toner treatment No 1 and NV toner treatment No 2.

On dengue, Liow said two deaths and 626 cases were recorded within a four-day period from Feb 28 to March 3, bringing the total number of deaths this year to 33 compared to 29 for the same period last year.

On Influenza A(H1N1), Liow said there were currently 29 influenza-like illness cases in hospital, six of them in the intensive care unit.