The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Philippines on Thursday warned the public against the use of powdered gloves.
In an advisory, the FDA cited the Medical Device Bans which the US Food and Drug Administration has recently issued regarding the risks posed by powdered gloves.
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has determined that Powdered Surgeon’s Gloves, Powdered Patient Examination Gloves, and Absorbable Powder for Lubricating a Surgeon’s Glove present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury and that the risk cannot be corrected or eliminated by labeling or a change in labeling,” according to the US FDA advisory.
“In order to ensure safety, FDA Philippines shall adopt the use of powder-free medical gloves,” Nela Charade Puno, FDA Philippines’ director general, said in an advisory.
She added that the health agency shall implement the gradual switching to powder-free gloves and eventually phase out powdered gloves, and shall be completed by the end of 2018.