The announcement follows a damning study by the University of the Free State (UFS), released last week, which has found that certain sanitary pads and panty liners may contain harmful endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and bisphenols. These harmful chemicals are linked to hormonal imbalance, infertility, endometriosis, and cancer.

The NCC’s Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu tells the OFM Business Hour that millions of South African women and girls use these products monthly, making this investigation a priority.

NCC Probes Origin of Sanitary Pads with Harmful Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals https://t.co/OJOV7fTUZW

— The National Consumer Commission (NCC) (@TheNCC_RSA) February 25, 2026

The NCC will engage with the affected suppliers, requiring the entities to conduct tests on the products in question or provide the latest laboratory results testing for endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Additionally, the commission will engage other regulators and stakeholders before deciding, explains Ratshisusu.

The study titled ‘The presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in sanitary pads: A study done in South Africa’ looked into 16 commercially available suppliers. The study conclusion reads

“This study revealed the presence of EDCs in sanitary pads and liners in South Africa, identifying menstrual products as a significant but overlooked source of toxic exposure. Although daily doses may seem low, the long-term, repeated contact with sensitive tissues poses cumulative health risks, including reproductive toxicity and cancer”.

Suppliers under investigation

• Kimberly-Clark of SA (PTY) Ltd (Kotex);
• Protector and Gamble (PTY) Ltd (Always);
• Anna Organics;
• The Lion Match Company (PTY) Ltd trading as Comfitex;
• Here We Flo trading as Flo;
• Johnson & Johnson (PTY) Ltd trading as Stay Free;
• Premier Group of Companies trading as Lil-lets;
• Essity Hygiene and Health AB trading as Libresse South Africa; and
• My Time

Women took to social media expressing concerns and searching for alternatives. Photo: SABC

Upon the release of the report, women took to social media expressing concerns and searching for alternatives. 

There is an ongoing online petition for the removal of all sanitary products currently under investigation from store shelves until they are conclusively proven safe by independent, unbiased tests led by scientists and women's health experts. The petition stands at over 1700 signatures and counting.

OFM has reached out to the University of the Free State (UFS) for an interview on the report. 

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