Gamahealthcare.com selling spray with PHMB 3 years after it was banned in UK - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 11:37:00 pm
content: I brought some 70% Isopropyl ipa alcohol(on Ebay)for cleaning stuff and for CPU's before I apply the paste and I received something different as posted in the Bad shopping thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/consumer-alert-2nd-no-3rd-pass-through-the-spam-bot-filter/msg4658767/#msg4658767The issue in this thread is not about the seller but the manufacturer selling a product with a supposedly banned ingredient.Sorry if it didn't sound clear.As I was discussing it on IRC with Jaymax calling it gutter oil that needs to be sold and questioning whether it is IPA rated I discovered something about the ingredients in the datasheet:This stuff is Clinell Universal Spray 60MLhttps://www.gamahealthcare.com/products/universal-spray-60Containing:QuoteI don't like the what I am reading about the so called side effects.https://byotrolplc.com/changes-to-biocidal-products-containing-polyhexamethylene-biguanide-phmb/QuoteBanned in EU but still in cosmetic products (regulated to low amounts):https://www.beuc.eu/news/suspected-cancer-causing-substance-still-found-personal-care-productsQuoteDead URL but found archive.org copy:http://kemi.taenk.dk/bliv-groennere/banned-and-potentially-cancer-causing-substance-still-found-personal-care-productsQuoteNow looking at that picture and the list, maybe I am missing something, I don't see anything there where you spray it as a form of mist in the air apart from the shaving cream.I know that polyhexamethylenebiguanie mixture is 1% but marketed to be used for everyday cleaning can mean higher exposure to it.https://www.gamahealthcare.com/products/universal-spray-60QuoteI am sure it works (as advertised on website) but I don't like what I am reading about the side effects of these ingredients and the fact what it seems to me that they are being sold as an everyday use 'spray in yer face' with at portable small bottle with the atomizer sprayer.I was thinking of it for of an industrial cleaning agent, where it is in a non spray bottle for wiping and you were a mask to not breathe it in but I don't know how how dangerous other than in large amounts and this is 1%.Also I see their disclaimer notice what looks to me like how might try wriggle out of responsibility.QuoteYes "to their best of their knowledge"... in 2010... but not at the time it was issued and published in 2019 to 2020.They seem to refer to standards before 2010:QuoteQuoteDatasheet attached:Universal Spray 60ml SDS.pdfJust found :https://www.endurocide.com/news/changes-to-our-enduro-hand-disinfectant-range/QuoteClinell Datasheet:QuoteBritain left the EU on 31 January 2020.https://www.government.nl/topics/brexit/question-and-answer/when-will-the-united-kingdom-leave-the-european-unionSo Endurocide stopped using it in their products in 2017 when the EU banned it and in 2019, 3 years after, Clinnel (Designs product in UK and makes them in China) had it approved using old EU regulation before 2010 ignoring the new 2017 regulation at the time.Earliest on archive.org: August 2020https://web.archive.org/web/20200805185535/https://www.gamahealthcare.com/products/universal-spray-60QuoteIt seems to me like they are cherry picking EU regulations by dates when it suits them.What do you think?Am I being paranoid?Edit: changed title.Mistakingly labelled it "HDPE" instead of "PHMB" as pointed out by thm_w.Spelt Gammahealthcare.com wrong in the domain with an extra "m".Suppose to be Gamahealthcare.com

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:06:29 am
content: You returned it without a problem, to me that is the end of the story. Its some old covid stock they probably wanted to clear out.If you are concerned about the seller, then leave a negative review, stating what happened and why others shouldn't buy from them.Your title is HDPE but its PHMBQuoteedit: how did you buy from them? I assumed it was ebay but is this their official Amazon store? Can you link to the item you actually bought.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:11:59 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on January 25, 2023, 01:06:29 amYes I have opened a return and I am not blaming them.QuoteAah makes sense, as to what Jaymax referred to as "Gutter oil".QuoteI opened returns as it was not alcohol and I did messaged the seller after I discovered it and now I got a returns form. It is not the seller I am talking about it is the manufacturer selling it in this country when it was suppose to be banned according to what I was reading about the ingredients on the datasheet (out of curiosity and to see there was any mention of IPA that Jaymax brought up) or am I missing something?QuoteOops will change it.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:23:12 am
content: You bought directly from the manufacturer?Or did you buy on Amazon/ebay.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:24:22 am
content: Aaah sorry it was Ebay.I am not holding the seller accountable or blaming them for the ingredients other than sending me the wrong thing with no alcohol in it.It is the manufacturer selling the product with the a supposedly banned ingredient.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:55:05 am
content: Who knows where the seller got it from though. There are all kinds of things you can buy on Ebay that are illegal to import in some country, and may be legal in another.If anything it is on the seller for selling it to you. But personally, with random ebay medical stuff, I'd prefer the buyer to do their homework, and buy what they want (obviously this is not the case here, but you get the idea).edit: Also I suspect you could get a better deal locally. I usually buy 4L of 99% IPA for work, its ~$40 (25 GBP).edit2: and its not what you want, as it has moisturizershttps://www.discountmedical.co.uk/robinson-healthcare-70-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-hand-disinfectant-sanitiser-spray-50ml-533-p.asp

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 02:48:11 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on January 25, 2023, 01:55:05 amOh I have, I got a couple of 5l jerry cans, 77% and 99%. I brought them for the size of bottles 100ml to take around and the sprayer. I had a look around and I happen to like them (the ones in the listing). Well actually I thought was a FirstAid brand but it was a "Robinson Healthcare" when I checked back after receiving those Clinal things so it would have turned up in a different style bottle but I wouldn't mind as long as it is alcohol in there.Silly me I just noticed I spelt the domain wrong:https://gammahealthcare.comIt was suppose to behttps://gamahealthcare.comI am sorry. I am feeling a bit embarassed.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 08:26:45 pm
content: What a result:That means I can toss it in the bin rather than take time and effort returning it.On discovery of the banned substance seems to have worked in my favour.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 10:35:52 pm
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on January 25, 2023, 02:48:11 amThose sprayer bottles are cheap, <$1 each.You can also re-use the ones from perfume bottles, sanitizer, etc. that other people throw out. The glass ones are often really nice if you are just using them at your desk.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 10:54:22 pm
content: I like glass thanks I never thought of that.I am considering of reusing the bottles and peeling the label off with some care in disposing the substance down the sink.

author: xmris
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2023, 09:24:57 am
content: I would contact the local trading standards and report my concerns about that product.