The Cosmetics Division of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDCSO) has issued a public health alert listing two beauty products without import registration that are currently sold in the Indian market.
The regulatory body has warned citizens against buying and using the Pakistani cosmetic brands Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, citing possible health risks to consumers. Marketplaces and establishments have also been warned not to sell, distribute or advertise the products.
The products, tested and analysed by the CDCSO, were found to contain heavy metals, well beyond the specified limits. This may cause harmful and damaging changes in the body after exposure to the product.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has imposed a total prohibition on all trade with Pakistan. This includes direct and indirect imports, exports and any transit of goods.
Despite the restriction, these cosmetic products were available on several online marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Tata 1mg, and Snapdeal. The Goree beauty cream is priced from ₹170 to ₹430, and the Chandni whitening cream is available at around ₹400. With comparatively lower pricing, the products appear popular and are often listed first when whitening creams are searched for.
The platforms listed these products as “Made in India”. In some cases, the product name, manufacturer details or packer were not entirely visible or available.
An Amazon spokesperson told Business Standard that the platform generally requires sellers to list products, and it will be checked whether they comply with both Indian laws and Amazon’s policies.
The Goree beauty cream on Amazon listed India as the country of origin and initially mentioned the manufacturer and packer as Neha Organic. The product was taken down after Amazon recognised that the company concerned provided incorrect information regarding the country of origin.
Flipkart and Meesho will reportedly be taking similar measures as soon as possible.
However, regulatory experts raised concerns about how companies might fake the place of origin and reroute their products from friendlier countries. They also raised the need for a stricter enforcement mechanism on e-commerce platforms.
