TANZANIA FOOD AND DRUGS AUTHORITY

NOTIFIED COSMETICS

A call for notification of cosmetic products was issued in September 2003. Based on the assessment of applications received, 1422 products have been granted approval between 2004 and 2008 as follows:-

The list of cosmetic products granted approval on yearly basis is as follows:-

Notified cosmetics 2004 - 2005
Notified cosmetics 2005 - 2006
Notified cosmetics 2006 - 2007
Notified cosmetics 2007 - 2008

BANNED COSMETICS

Section 88 (a) of the Tanzania Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 2003 prohibits the Manufacture, sell, supply or distribution of cosmetics that contain prohibited ingredients which may harm or cause injury to the users under normal conditions of use.

In September 2003, the Authority prohibited the following ingredients:-

1. Biothionol
2. Hexachlorophene
3. Mercury compounds
4. Vinyl chloride
5. Zirconium – containing complexes in aerosol products
6. Halogenated salicylanilides (di-, tri- metabromsalan and tetrachlorosalicylanilides)
7. Chloroquinone and its derivatives
8. Steroids in any proportions
9. Chloroform
10. Chlorofluorocarbon propellants (fully halogenated chlorofluoroalkanes) in cosmetics aerosol products
11. Methylene chloride

All manufactures, importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers of cosmetics were requested not to engage in the supply of cosmetics containing the above prohibited ingredients. Furthermore importation into the country and manufacture of cosmetic products containing the above ingredients was also prohibited and the prohibition is still in force.

Following the prohibition of the above ingredients, the Authority conducted country-wide inspection between 2003-2008. The inspections conducted identified 217 cosmetic products containing one or more the above ingredients and subsequently the products were banned in the country.

The Authority wishes to inform all cosmetic dealers and the general public that the under listed banned cosmetics may cause harm or injury to the users and therefore the public should refrain from using such products.

List of banned cosmetics 2004 - 2005
List of banned cosmetics 2005 - 2006
List of banned cosmetics 2007 - 2008

The general public is also urged to inform the Authority of unscrupulous cosmetic dealers still engaging in the supply of banned cosmetic products. The information should be communicated to Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) – External Mabibo, Off Mandela Road, TFDA zone Offices in Arusha (Northern Zone), Mwanza (Lake Zone), Mbeya (Southern Highlands Zone), Regional Medical Officers or District Medical Officers.

THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
TANZANIA FOOD AND DRUGS AUTHORITY (TFDA)
EPI – MABIBO
P.O. BOX 77150, DAR ES SALAAM
TEL: 022 2450751/2450512/2452108
FAX: 255 22 2450793
E-MAIL: tfda@tfda.or.tz