Imported cosmetic eyeliners that contain 84 percent lead are being taken off store shelves throughout Australia with WA shoppers warned to be on the look-out.

Consumer Protection said testing by NSW Fair Trading found that Hashmi Surmi Special and Hashmi Kohl Aswad eyeliners had dangerous levels of lead as well as containing other hazardous metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury. It may have caused three children from the same family in NSW to become sick after they tested positive to high levels of lead in their blood.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the eyeliners were manufactured in Pakistan and could be on sale in WA.

“Our product safety officers have carried out searches of likely sellers of this type of product in WA but have yet to find any of the eyeliners for sale here,” Mr Hillyard said.

“But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t on sale, or that WA consumers may have purchased them online, so buyers still need to beware.

“It’s appalling that some of the product packaging specifically states that no lead is present, which is misleading and dangerous. The use of cosmetics containing lead can have long term health effects, including brain and kidney damage, in both adults and children.

“So consumers who have bought these products should stop using them, seek medical advice and contact Consumer Protection to provide details of where they were purchased. Traders should check their stock and, if found, remove them from sale immediately.”

Consumers or traders with product safety concerns or enquiries can contact Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54 or email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au. Further product safety information is available at www.productsafety.gov.au.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au  

Hashmi eyeliner