Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has found dangerous levels of mercury in eight brands of skin-whitening cream collected from the market. In information published on August 4, 2026, the agency urged businesses to stop selling, distributing and stocking the products, while advising the public not to use them because of potential serious health risks.

BSTI said the products contained mercury far above the maximum acceptable level of 1.00 ppm under Bangladesh Standard BDS 1382. The highest reading, 123.37 ppm, was found in Dew Beauty Cream from Pakistan's Creative Cosmetics, while Chandni Whitening Cream contained 120.39 ppm. Other tested products included Navia, Noor, Gouri and Natural Pearl Screen creams.

The agency said such whitening creams are entering the domestic market through luggage and smuggling routes rather than legal imports. BSTI Director General Kazi Imdadul Haque said legal action would be taken against entities producing, importing or marketing cosmetics containing harmful ingredients. The agency warned that prolonged use of mercury-containing creams may damage skin, kidneys and the nervous system, and may affect fetal development during pregnancy.