Hashmi Kohl product is 84% lead and contains other dangerous metals

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Three Sydney children have become ill after using an imported eyeliner from Pakistan almost entirely made of lead.



The Hashmi Kohl-branded product was 84% lead and also contained high levels of dangerous metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury, the New South Wales better regulation minister, Matt Kean, said on Tuesday.

“Some of the product packaging even specifically states that no lead is present, which is a total disgrace,” Kean said.

After the children – all from the same family – fell ill, doctors found elevated lead levels in their blood, prompting a NSW Fair Trading investigation and referral to Australian Border Force for investigation.

Businesses supplying products that disobey the mandatory standard can be punished with fines of up to $1.1m.

The brand’s products, mostly sold in shops selling Indian and Pakistani goods, are banned for sale in the US. Regulators there have issued an import alert for all kohl eye cosmetics because they commonly have elevated lead levels and carry false labels.