Rwanda steps up campaign against skin bleaching creams

Rwanda has intensified the ban against skin lightening and bleaching products, following President Paul Kagame’s expressed concerns last year.

In November, while responding to a citizen’s concern President Kagame took to Twitter and ordered the Ministry of Health and Police to crack down on the skin bleaching products and substandard cosmetics which he described as ‘whiteners’ and said were ‘unhealthy’. Some of the products have hydroquinone, said to cause skin cancer.

The intensified campaign was confirmed by the Rwanda Standards Board.

“It is been implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority and the Rwanda Standards Board,” said Simeon Kwizera, the public relations and communications officer for the board.

He added: “Operations are being conducted by technical people,” he said. “The police is there to oversee only and make sure that all operations are being conducted in a safe way.”

As a result government officials and police are now patrolling markets in the capital, Kigali, and in the provinces, seizing skin-lightening and bleaching products from vendors.

According to Police, they seized more than 5,000 banned bleaching products — including lotions, oils, soaps and sprays — from beauty shops across the country last month.

Other African countries that have banned skin-lightening creams include Ghana and Ivory Coast.