Rwandan authorities have seized skin bleaching products and other illegal products worth $46,000 in a joint operation conducted in different parts of the country, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau said on Friday.
Jean Twagirayezu, head of investigations department of the investigation bureau, in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, said, “The operation seeks to enforce the law against skin bleaching products which are illegal under the ministerial order determining the list of cosmetics prohibited in Rwanda.
“Other impounded products include expired foodstuffs,” Twagirayezu told journalists.
“The seized products valued at over $46,000 in total,’’ Twagirayezu said.
Rwandan Ministry of Health in 2018 blacklisted 1,343 skin bleaching products, mostly imported containing high levels of hydroquinone which it said puts users at the risk of suffering skin cancer.
A joint operation by Rwandan authorities November has led to the seizure of over 5,000 assorted substandard bleaching products from beauty shops in different parts of the country, such as body oils, lotions, and toilet soaps.