Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) of The Gambia has issued an urgent recall of the Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap, 100g, with batch number 81832M 08, following concerns about the product’s safety.

The recall follows a notification from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which was alerted by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) about the presence of a dangerous chemical, Butylphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), also known as Lilial.

BMHCA, a chemical impurity found in the affected batch of Dove soap, has been banned in cosmetic products across the European Union and several other countries due to its potential health risks. These include serious reproductive harm, risks to unborn children, and skin sensitization, which can lead to allergic reactions.

The MCA’s recall order is a response to these safety concerns, and the agency is urging the public to immediately stop using the affected product. Businesses and individuals in possession of Dove Beauty Cream Bar Soap, 100g, with batch number 81832M 08, are instructed to return the stock to MCA’s offices without delay.

“The public is hereby warned to desist from using this batch of the product and submit any remaining quantities to the MCA office,” the agency stated in its release.

Failure to comply with the recall order would violate the Medicines and Related Products Act, 2014, and Medicines and Related Products Regulations, 2020, which could lead to severe regulatory penalties.

For further inquiries or assistance regarding the recall, the public can contact MCA via their toll-free hotline at 1233 on QCell or by phone at 3363068.

The MCA says it remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of consumers by closely monitoring products on the Gambian market and taking immediate action when public health risks arise.