5 shampoos sold in Hong Kong found to contain chemicals banned in EU

Five anti-dandruff shampoos sold in Hong Kong contain substances banned in the EU for being potentially harmful to fetuses and reproductive systems, the consumer watchdog has found.

The Consumer Council on Monday urged residents to identify the cause of their dandruff issues and avoid using unsuitable products that might aggravate the problem after it found four of 25 anti-dandruff shampoo brands it tested contained zinc pyrithione (ZPT).

The chemical has been prohibited under the EU Cosmetics Regulation since March 2022.

Two samples, one of which also has ZPT, contained a fragrance substance prohibited in the European Union.

But Kenneth Chan Kin-nin, the watchdog’s publicity and community relations committee vice-chairman, said the tested concentrations of ZPT ranged from 0.19 to 0.95 per cent, which complied with mainland Chinese regulations that limit the substance in “anti-dandruff rinse-off hair products” to 1.5 per cent or less.

“ZPT is an anti-dandruff ingredient with antibacterial properties,” Chan said, adding the substance was known for its effectiveness against Malassezia, the fungus responsible for dandruff.