As cosmetics safety continues to be a hot topic, efforts are now being made to curtail the use of mercury in cosmetics products. According to recently published reports the issue was given new attention recently during the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting which was held in Stockholm, Sweden.

As many as 132 countries participated in the first stage of creating a treaty to help control mercury pollution. One of the issues raised was the importance of halting the manufacture of skin lightening products which contain mercury. This is only one phase of the negotiation process. Stakeholders hope that a full agreement will be arrived at within three years.