The Chinese cosmetics industry is still being plagued by microbial contamination and the presence of excessive heavy metallic elements in its products, warned the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

The results of an inspection launched in 16 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, showed that 5.6 percent of 824 products on sale were found to contain excessive amounts of heavy metals, such as mercury, and displayed evidence of microbial contamination.

However, the quality of whitening cosmetics, children's cosmetics and facial masks have, in general, improved, said the ministry in a statement.

Last month, the ministry announced that a new regulation on cosmetics production would take effect from July 1.

The regulation will double the number of banned cosmetics, bringing the total to 1,286.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2007)