Cancer warning over cosmetics

The Green Party is calling for all cosmetics to be "properly" labelled and registered, following concerns raised overseas about chemicals used in some products and hair dyes.

A Green survey of 120 cosmetics commonly available in pharmacies and supermarkets found 81 per cent contained parabens, Green MP Sue Kedgley said in a statement.

Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in cosmetics. This year scientists at the University of Reading in Britain found parabens in human breast tumours.

Ms Kedgley, the Greens' health spokeswoman, said a European Commission scientific committee had raised concerns over the safety of some hair dyes.

- NZPA