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Panama orders withdrawal of Nivea sunscreens due to prohibited ingredient
🇵🇦 Panama /Health & Science

Panama orders withdrawal of Nivea sunscreens due to prohibited ingredient

From TVN Panamá · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Panama's Ministry of Health has ordered the immediate withdrawal of two Nivea sunscreen products from the market.
  • The products were found to contain BMHCA, a substance classified as prohibited in cosmetics due to potential carcinogenic effects.
  • The ministry has also canceled the sanitary registrations for these specific Nivea sunscreens.

Panama's Ministry of Health (Minsa) has taken decisive action, ordering the immediate removal of two Nivea sunscreen products from the market. The decision follows the cancellation of their sanitary registrations, impacting Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh FPS 50 and Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh FPS 30.

These products, manufactured in Spain by Beiersdorf Manufacturing Tres Cantos S.L., were found to contain 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, also known as BMHCA. This compound is listed as a prohibited ingredient in cosmetic products by European regulations due to concerns about its potential carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproductive toxicity effects.

The European Commission's Safety Gate rapid alert system flagged these sunscreens, leading to the Minsa's directive. The ministry has mandated that all distributors immediately retrieve available batches and submit a report on the process within 30 days. The resolutions, issued on July 7, 2026, became effective upon their publication in the Official Digital Gazette on July 21.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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