Women are suffering avoidable harm because of "dangerous gaps" in the regulation of the cosmetics industry, MPs have warned. In a report on Wednesday, the Science and Technology Committee criticised an "unacceptable" 13-year delay in Government regulation of high-risk fillers including liquid BBLs.
Severe complications in unregulated settings
The committee warned women are facing severe and life-threatening complications - from sepsis to organ failures - after having procedures in "unregulated settings with unqualified practitioners using unknown substances". MPs said the current "confusing mess" of regulations have failed to keep up with new products such as injectables, leaving consumers without basic protections on products like fat dissolvers and skin brighteners.
The committee also said complacent attitudes over effective science-based regulation have "roots in sexism and racism." This follows the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) having warned it was "deeply disappointed" by a lack of Government action to address cowboy practitioners in a report in September.
Pressure on Government to act
Wednesday's report from the science committee mounts further pressure on the Government to crackdown on the unchecked industry. Ministers have promised to consult on new legislation soon to ensure only qualified healthcare professionals can perform high-risk cosmetic procedures. But Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the tech committee, warned the issue was too urgent for more delays, saying "action, not just a consultation, is long overdue."
Among its demands, the committee called for mandatory national training and qualification standards for Botox as it pointed out there is no regulation governing who can administer Botox. MPs also called for further research to close gaps in insufficient knowledge across the industry, including into chemical hair relaxers and other products used primarily by Black women and girls.
Call for better reporting systems
The report concluded that "systems for reporting cosmetic harm are failing at both ends", highlighting how consumers have no clear route to raise the alarm, and under-reporting of harm means regulators operate without the evidence base they need. MPs said the government should establish a single, widely promoted point of contact for reporting harm, alongside routes through which consumers can seek support and redress.
Dame Chi said: "People buying products and treatments on the high street should be able to trust that these are safe, properly regulated and being provided by someone with the right training. Years of delay have left dangerous gaps in regulation and exposed people to avoidable harm. Complacency over this has clear roots in sexism and racism, with no other sector of its size having such a high proportion of female-owned businesses.
"Action, not just a consultation, is long overdue, and quick solutions must be found to regulate injectable products like fat dissolvers and skin brighteners, whilst making sure any regulation doesn’t push female-led businesses off the market.
"The cosmetics industry is a science industry, and science must be at the heart of how its regulated. This means filling gaps in research, responding more quickly when evidence of harm emerges and explaining risks clearly to the public. Consumers shouldn't pay the price for regulation that has failed to keep pace."
