Tanzanian authorities said on Monday they will not impose a ban on the use of artificial nails and eyelashes after the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) assessment revealed that they caused no human health problems.

Hussein Mwinyi, Minister of Defence and National Service and a professional medical doctor, told parliament in the capital Dodoma that the government will not ban artificial nails and eyelashes after an assessment had found out that the fake nails were safe and suitable for human use.

Mwinyi, who was responding to a question on behalf of the Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu, said: "An assessment done by TFDA has shown that fake nails and eye ashes have no side effects to mankind."

In her question, the Member of Parliament on Special Seats, Rukia Kassim Ahmed, had wanted to know measures being taken by the government to enforce legal steps against the use of fake nails and eye lashes among women.

The decision by the government not to ban artificial nails and eye lashes came six months after lawmakers in Tanzania were banned by Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai from entering parliament with fake nails and eye lashes.

Ndugai had imposed the ban after Deputy Minister for Health Faustine Ndungulile had raised concerns about the health risks posed by fake nails and eye lashes.

The Speaker said the ban would also apply to visitors to parliament.

Xinhua