Kanebo "Vitiligo" Issue External Investigation Report Released

On November 11, Kanebo Cosmetics released a third-party investigation report by an outside lawyer into a series of cases of vitiligo, a condition in which the skin turns a mottled white from skin-whitening cosmetics. The report pointed out that Kanebo Cosmetics should have taken appropriate action in September of last year when doctors pointed out the possibility of a causal relationship between the cosmetics and vitiligo, and criticized the company for its delay in initiating a voluntary recall until July of this year, 10 months after the incident occurred. In response, the company announced measures to prevent recurrence, including the return of executive compensation and the establishment of a customer consultation center and quality control department with parent company Kao. Attending the press conference were (from left) Hideki Nakagome and Gyota Matsunaga, attorneys of the third-party committee, in the afternoon of September 11, 2013, in Chuo-ku, Tokyo.