The director of a beauty company has been caught selling toxic skin-lightening products that are banned in the UK.
Ofure Patience Ehizode, of Heywood Avenue, Colindale, has admitted selling products containing dangerous chemicals known to cause serious health problems, including cancer, through her business EllaGold Ltd.
Barnet Council’s trading standards officers searched her property in February 2023 after being tipped off by the Swedish authorities that Ehizode was selling cosmetics that included banned ingredients.
They removed 30 bags of evidence containing more than 3,500 products in what was one of the largest seizures of its kind in Barnet for many years.
Some of the products seized were found to contain hydroquinone, which causes premature ageing and weakening of the skin, neuropathy (a disease of the nervous system) and liver damage.
Hydroquinone also increases the risk of skin cancer.
Ehizode appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on September 26 where she was given a 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work.
She was given a personal financial penalty of £6,364, and her company was fined £10,450, bringing the total amount to £16,384.
She had earlier pleaded guilty to 15 counts of breaching Cosmetics Products Enforcement Regulations on behalf of herself and the company, of which she is the sole director.
Although some skin-lightening products are legal, many are banned in the UK because they contain toxic substances that are harmful to health and cause permanent skin damage.
Cllr Barry Rawlings, leader of Barnet Council and cabinet member for strategic partnerships, economy and effective council, said: “Illegal skin-lightening products are highly dangerous and can cause serious health problems. We’re determined to protect our residents and ensure those caught selling them are brought to justice.
“I’d like to thank our trading standards team for taking robust action in this case and sending a clear message that selling these products will not be tolerated.”
Anyone with concerns about how a business is operating within Barnet can email trading.standards@barnet.gov.uk
Alternatively, people can contact London Trading Standards at: https://www.londontradingstandards.org.uk/report-consumer-crime/.
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