Reimbursements can now be claimed by customers who bought any of the nine types of SK-II cosmetics found to be unsafe by China's quality watchdog.

However, customers in Beijing have complained of difficulties in getting their money back. And the company has said they're puzzled by the news their products are deemed unsafe and are working with the authorities to verify the findings.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced on Thursday that they'd detected harmful ingredients in SK-II cosmetics produced by Procter and Gamble (Japan) in south China's Guangdong Province.

According to the body nine types of SK-II cosmetics had been found to contain chromium or neodymium which experts say can cause problems such as eczema and irritation of the eyes.

Customers said they'd to provide proof of purchase and were not entitled to a refund if they had used more than two thirds of the product. A female customer surnamed Hao at the Beijing Modern Plaza was denied a refund as she had used too much. "It's absurd," she said. "The more I've used the more I've been harmed!"

Zhang Qunxiang, a spokesperson for Procter and Gamble in Guangzhou told China Daily his company was puzzled by the sudden news. "We don't understand why such a problem has happened," Zhang said.

"The batch of products found by the watchdog to be unsafe has been stopped at customs and won't enter the Chinese market," he explained. "The company is working with authorities to get to the bottom of this puzzle as soon as possible."

(China Daily September 18, 2006)