Brent Council has pledged to come down hard on shops that sell illegal skin bleaching products which can contain ingredients that could kill.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Faiza products were found to contain mercury (Pics: LTS)Faiza products were found to contain mercury (Pics: LTS) (Image: Archant)

Cllr Tom Miller, Brent Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, has vowed to tackle the issue after a report released this week showed some products were so dangerous users could suffer from skin thinning and discoloration, organ damage and even cancer.

The report compiled by London Trading Standards (LTS) revealed 15 shops in London were fined a total of £168,579 for selling illegal products in 2016.

Products found for sale across the city include Faiza Beauty Cream which was found to contain 0.54 per cent of deadly mercury and Grace Duo which had 18pc of the bleaching agent hydroquinone – which is banned from being used in cosmetics in the UK.

Online traders are also flouting the law with LTS finding at least 15 traders on Ebay selling illegal products.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Skin whitening products can cause irreparable damage to skin (Pics: LTS)Skin whitening products can cause irreparable damage to skin (Pics: LTS) (Image: Archant)

Officers are currently trying to locate and tackle the sellers.

Cllr Tom Miller, Brent Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “I’m really pleased to see that Trading Standards teams across London are working hard to stamp out the sale of these illegal, and quite frankly life threatening cosmetic products.

“Consumers have a right to expect that retailers will only sell safe and reputable products and businesses have a responsibility to make sure that each product they sell meets all the legal and safety conditions required by UK law.

“Our Trading Standards Team will continue to come down hard on these rogue retailers and ask people to report any concerns, so that Trading Standards can take action to prevent anyone being harmed or scarred for life.”

Brent & Kilburn Times: Grace products contain banned high levels of hydroquinone (Pics: LTS)Grace products contain banned high levels of hydroquinone (Pics: LTS) (Image: Archant)

Steve Playle, a spokesman for LTS, added: “Last year saw some great outcomes as a result of our co-ordinated campaign against illegal cosmetics and some defendants even had suspended prison sentences imposed.

“These penalties should make shop owners tempted to ignore safety rules think twice before putting profit over the health and safety of their customers.”

You can let LTS know about a shop selling illegal products by visit here.