The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has called on men to take an active role in monitoring the cosmetic products used by their partners to help protect families from health risks linked to unsafe beauty products.
Speaking during the Mbeya City Expo trade and investment exhibition, Acting Manager of TBS Southern Highlands Zone, Rodney Alananga, said the increasing use of cosmetics containing harmful chemicals continues to threaten public health across the country.
He noted that many users have suffered severe skin complications after using substandard and unregulated products, stressing that the issue should no longer be viewed as a concern affecting women alone.
Alananga said some cosmetic products used by men have also been found to contain dangerous substances that may cause both short-term and long-term health complications.
“Today, even some cosmetics used by men pose health risks. For example, investigations have shown that products such as Clair Men oil may cause both temporary and long-term effects, including skin cancer,” he said.
He urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing cosmetic products by ensuring they carry TBS quality marks and clear manufacturer information.
According to Alananga, the use of unsafe cosmetics may lead to skin peeling, discoloration, allergies, skin damage and other chronic illnesses that can endanger lives.
He said TBS has intensified public awareness campaigns on the dangers of cosmetics containing hazardous ingredients to help consumers make informed decisions before buying products.
However, he stressed that the fight against unsafe products cannot succeed without cooperation from the public, traders and health stakeholders.
“We encourage citizens to report suspicious products so immediate action can be taken. Community cooperation is very important in ensuring unsafe products are removed from the market,” he said.
Alananga added that TBS continues to conduct routine inspections in shops, markets and business centres to identify products that fail to meet required standards and take legal action against traders violating regulations.
Apart from inspections, he said the institution has also been using trade exhibitions, public meetings, radio and television programmes to educate more people on safe product use.
He described the Mbeya City Expo as an important platform for TBS to interact directly with the public and provide awareness on the safe use of everyday consumer products.
Some visitors at the TBS pavilion praised the education campaign, saying it had helped them understand how to identify safe products and avoid harmful cosmetics.
One of the visitors, Juliana Frank, said many consumers buy cosmetics based on quick results without considering the long-term consequences.
“I have learned that not every product sold on the market is safe. It is important to read instructions carefully and ensure products are certified by TBS before using them,” she said.
Cosmetic traders were also urged to ensure they sell only registered and certified products to protect consumers’ health and avoid legal penalties.
Alananga emphasized that the fight against counterfeit and unsafe products requires collective responsibility, urging citizens to become ambassadors for safe product use within their communities.
He said TBS will continue strengthening product regulation efforts to ensure consumer health and safety remain a national priority.
