The Trading Standards seizure was the largest of its kind in Barnet for many years

Willesden Magistrates Court by Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Colindale woman has been given a 12-month community order and a fine of £16,814 after being caught selling toxic skin-lightening products that are banned in the UK.

Ofure Patience Ehizode admitted selling products containing dangerous chemicals known to cause serious health problems through her business EllaGold Ltd.

Appearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday 26th September, Ehizode, of Heywood Avenue, Colindale was given a 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work. She was given a personal financial penalty of £6364, and her company was fined 10,450, bringing the total fine costs to £16,814.

She had earlier pleaded guilty to 15 counts of breaching Cosmetics Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 on behalf of herself and the company, of which she is the sole director.

Barnet Council’s trading standards officers searched her property in February 2023 after being tipped off by the Swedish authorities that Ehizode was selling cosmetics that included banned ingredients.

They removed 30 bags of evidence containing over 3,500 products in what was one of the largest seizures of its kind in Barnet for many years.

The use of skin-lightening products is growing, and they are popular among women and some men from African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean backgrounds.

Although some are legal, many are banned in the UK because they contain toxic substances that are harmful to health and cause permanent skin damage.

Some of the products seized by trading standards officers were found to contain hydroquinone, which causes premature ageing and weakening of the skin, neuropathy (a disease of the nervous system) and liver damage. Hydroquinone also increases the risk of skin cancer.

Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council, said: “Illegal skin-lightening products are highly dangerous and can cause serious health problems. We’re determined to protect our residents and ensure those caught selling them are brought to justice.

“I’d like to thank our trading standards team for taking robust action in this case and sending a clear message that selling these products will not be tolerated.”

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