CDSCO flags Pakistani cosmetic products over excessive heavy metals: What consumers need to know

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public health alert against the use of unauthorised cosmetic products, urging consumers to stay away from certain cosmetic products that have not received the required regulatory approval for sale in India.

According to the notice, the regulator identified two cosmetic products, Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, both labelled as being made in Pakistan and reported them as unauthorised for sale in India.

CDSCO flags excessive heavy metals

"The above products are unauthorized and contains excessive heavy metals beyond the specified limits which may pose health risk to the consumers including toxic effects," mentioned the official CDSCO notice.

Importantly, CDSCO said the products had not been issued registration certificates for import by the competent authority, meaning they were not authorised for import and sale in India under the applicable regulatory framework.

In light of these events, officials advised people not to purchase the above-mentioned cosmetics and, if purchased, to avoid using them.

Consumers should look for details such as the manufacturing licence number, manufacturer's information, batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date. For imported cosmetics, the relevant registration number should also be present. If violations are noticed or suspicious information is found on cosmetic labels, consumers have been advised to report them.

CDSCO has directed establishments and individuals not to sell, distribute or advertise the identified products.

What happens if you use harmful cosmetic products?

Several studies emphasise the alarming link between the harmful chemicals present in many of these harmful cosmetic products and a range of health problems, from minor skin irritations to more serious ailments like hormone imbalances, problems with reproduction, and even some types of cancer.