Safety Assurance of Our Products
Shiseido Co., Ltd. extends its unwavering support and heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the events in Japan of March 11, and their aftermath worldwide. (A part of the announcement was revised as of April 22nd) While these unprecedented incidents and concerns over the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant touch us all, we would like to reassure our customers around the world that our products are safe and can be used with confidence. Shiseido has collaborated with a third-party organization and no radiation has been detected. We will continue to conduct independent tests as needed as a continuation of our intense focus on safety. On March 30, the Japan Cosmetics Industry Association issued the following statement regarding recent events in Japan, in relation to the guaranteed safety of cosmetic products manufactured in Japan. Product safety is our first priority. Shiseido manufactures under the very strict laws and guidelines of Japan's Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, which insist on world-leading safety standards. Together with the Japan Cosmetics Industry Association, we are working closely with the authorities, and taking appropriate steps to ensure that all our products are safe. For more than 100 years, Shiseido's mission has been to improve people's lives through the use of cosmetics. Shiseido remains dedicated to this mission.
JAPAN COSMETIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION / Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant I Accident and Safety of Cosmetics Manufactured in Japan
Various reports regarding the accident are released every day by Japanese Government as well as by media including radioactive substances detected in drinking water and agricultural products in some area near to Fukushima. Many of consumers must have concerns about the safety of cosmetics manufactured in Japan. Japan Cosmetic Industry Association would like to extend the following message to consumers who hope to use cosmetics without concern. Cosmetic products manufactured in Japan are safe based on available data as shown in the below.
1. Cosmetics are manufactured in in-door environments highly controlling extraneous substances and particles. The possibility that radioactive substances in the atmosphere would affect the production process is extremely low. 2. Provided that the water with acceptable standard level of radioactive substances applied to drinking water designated by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is used in the all manufacturing processi, and that the product is used every day for one year, the total amount of radiation exposure from the cosmetic product would be no more than 7.8 microsieverts per yearii, which has no effect on human health. 3. Japanese Government states the present level of radioactive substances in water supply does not pose any problem when used in contact with human skin by hand washing, shampooing, bathing, etc. The same can be said for cosmetic products, which are mainly applied to the skin. Thus we believe cosmetic products, even if they are manufactured using the said water are safe when used under normal and foreseeable way. As it is well known, we are exposed to 2,400 microsieverts of naturally occurring　radiation per year on averageiii.
We, Japan Cosmetic Industry Association state that cosmetics produced in Japan will not in any way adversely affect consumers’ health due to radioactive substances released into the atmosphere by the recent accident at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant I. Japan Cosmetic Industry Association will continue to closely monitor the information released by Japanese Government and other bodies, and will put top priority in our activities to ensure the safety of cosmetics manufactured in Japan to respond to all consumers in the world.
Japan Cosmetic Industry Association Toranomon 45MT Bldg., 6F, 5-1-5, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
i Calculations based on hypotheses that total amount of radioactive substances in cosmetics are taken into human body by use of cosmetics. Since the amount of cesium in the water supply is far below of the tentative regulated amount, the tentative regulated amount and the radioactive decay of 131I are used for the calculation, taking into account the days necessary for manufacturing, quality control, shipment from warehouse to consumers. ii Calculation using the level of oral intake since no such figure exists for cosmetics at present. iii Report by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)
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