The cosmetics, most of which are perfume, were produced in France, Britain, Italy and Japan, according to the Beijing Bureau of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine.

The Ministry of Health and the State General Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine issued a statement on March 4 banning the import and sale of cosmetics from countries and regions where BSE has been found.

Enterprises who already imported cosmetic products containing cattle or sheep brain tissue, nerve tissue, internal organs, placenta and blood, or their extracts, are urged to immediately report to health authorities and withdraw them from sale before the April 20 deadline, or face punishment.

The directive shows the Chinese Government's persistent determination to prevent the deadly disease from entering its BSE-free country, especially since the disease has been found in dozens of countries in the world, officials said.

Health authorities will also kick off a campaign in Beijing to conduct a complete check on imported cosmetics, ensuring such products are not sold on the market.

Many large department stores in the capital have already stopped the sale of these imported cosmetics. But in many small and medium-sized markets, such cosmetics are reportedly still for sale.

Some market managers said they are waiting for a list of the banned cosmetics before clearing their shelves because they do not know which ones should be pulled. Consumers have also been waiting for the list to know which cosmetics to avoid.

Such a list will be distributed, according to the Ministry of Health, but it will not happen until after April 20, said Zhang Yinfa, a ministry official.

(China Daily April 9, 2002)