A recent spot-check by Ministry of Health (MOH) investigators found 10.5 percent of imported cosmetics and 8.3 percent domestic products failing to meet quality standards, the Ministry announced on Wednesday.

The MOH examined 43,125 cosmetic products across the country last year, of which 91.5 percent met quality standards, equaling that of the previous year.

In September last year, the sale of SK-II cosmetics was suspended in China after quarantine quality and control authorities discovered chromium and neodymium in twelve SK-II products imported from Japan.

Thousands of angry consumers demanded refunds following media reports suggesting that chromium could cause eczema and neodymium could cause skin irritation, along with damage to the lungs and liver if inhaled.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, later commented in a joint statement with the MOH in October that traces of the banned substances would not affect the health of customers. They subsequently revoked the ban on the sale of SK-II cosmetics in China.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2007)