NEW DELHI: India’s top drug regulator has warned the public against usage of two skin-whitening creams labelled “Made in Pakistan.”
Tests found heavy metals above the allowed limits. The creams were also not authorised for sale in India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said in its warning issued on September 8.
The CDSCO said the creams sold as ‘Goree Beauty Cream’ and ‘Chandni Whitening Cream’, had no required registration certificate for import and sale in India.
Tests also found excessive levels of heavy metals in the creams. Such exposure can pose health risks, said the regulator.
The concern is higher when such products are used often or for a long time. Some heavy metals, including mercury, can enter the body through the skin, warned the CDSCO.
High or long-term exposure can affect organs such as the kidneys and nervous system. The warning also highlights the risks of buying cosmetics through informal sellers and online platforms.
The source of such products may not always be clear, it said, adding that their maker and regulatory status may also be difficult to verify.
Consumers who have already bought the two creams have been advised not to use them even as CDSCO also warned against products with similar names.
The regulator has asked sellers not to sell or promote the two creams. Enforcement teams have been told to check their sale in their areas.
According to the government officials, the manufacture and import of cosmetics are governed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
The Bureau of Indian Standards also sets standards for cosmetic products. Drug Controller General of India Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said cosmetics sold to consumers must meet safety and regulatory standards.
CDSCO has asked consumers to check labels before buying cosmetics. For Indian products, the label should carry the manufacturing licence number.
It should also mention the manufacturer’s name and details while the batch number and dates of manufacture and expiry should also be given.
At the same time, imported cosmetics should carry the required registration number.
The CDSCO has also asked enforcement agencies to stop the sale of the two creams through unauthorised channels.
