The cosmetics industry in India is growing rapidly. Also contributing to this growth is the entry of MNCs and aggressive marketing initiatives. But, monitoring the authenticity of these products with reference to quality and safety, has been a matter of deep concern
In what can be termed as the biggest ever series of raids on cosmetic product makers in India, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) conducted raids at 30 locations spread across eight cities, targeting those involved in the manufacture and import of ‘illegal’ products. During the two-day raids carried out by 30 teams comprising 150 officers, CDSCO is reported to have seized illegal products worth ₹ 4 crore and also, registered five independent FIRs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, against the accused manufacturers for jeopardizing human health.
The raids were simultaneously conducted by the organisation in Mumbai, Pune, Mehsana, Delhi, Patna, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Chennai, state media reports.
The confiscated goods will be deposited in the respective courts and the suspects will be prosecuted, stated S. Eswara Reddy, Drug Controller General of India. Pointing out that stem cell-based products are not permitted to be sold in India as it is in the banned list, Reddy informs that the confiscated products comprise mesenchymal stem cell-based creams, hair serum, hyaluronic acid injections, anti-hair loss solutions, botulinum toxin injections, peels made with various ingredients, skin peel exfoliators, and glutathione injections, among others.
Ingredients Not Legalized for Use on Humans
A senior Health Ministry official says the confiscated products are derived from a human stem cell, which are illegal for use in India. However, these are sold as beauty products and as solutions for hair loss.
An official statement issued by CDSCO mentions that many of the seized products contained ingredients which are not legalized for use on humans. The new generation of cosmetics like stem cell based cosmetics, serums, skin whitening creams, glutathione injections, hyaluronic acid filler injections, among others, are being marketed without evaluating their safety and quality, the statement added.
The confiscated goods included, among others, solutions for hair fall, skin lightening, scalp enriching and face-lifting – all containing the banned stem cell derived ingredients and a few other products. These included ‘harmful’ rated cosmetics that are generally used in salons, such as MCCM moisturizing masks; Sterile EO’s Meso face-lifting threads, a non-surgical face lifting treatment performed using threads; a number of illegally imported cosmetics on Amazon; and Dermaheal’s Stem C’Rum HL for checking hair loss. Additionally, CDSCO officials also seized relumin advanced glutathione, which are basically skin whitening injections; and lakia cell placenta ampoules imported from Germany, which are used for ageing and freckled skin.
The CDSCO statement also highlighted the fact that the Indian cosmetics industry is growing rapidly, a phenomenon which is also spurred by the entry of multinationals and aggressive marketing initiatives. But, monitoring the authenticity of these products with reference to quality and safety, has been a matter of deep concern.
Before executing the raid, CDSCO’s intelligence department had prepared itself by undertaking a comprehensive study on the latest trends in cosmetic products’ marketing, for three months, reveals Reddy. Since the sales and distribution of cosmetics are exempt from taking licenses unlike drugs, the tracking of deceitful elements becomes tough, he stresses. “However, the proliferation of e-markets has made things a bit easier for us because we can now track orders online. This trend has resulted in the identification of a number of distributors of illegal imports and manufacturers of bogus and unlicensed manufacturers,” he adds.
Reddy opines that the consumers should exercise caution while buying cosmetic products and directed them to buy these only from authenticated dealers and e-commerce sites.
The past actions by CDSCO
In a similar initiative by CDSCO, in early September, the agency, along with Delhi government’s Drug Control Department, had conducted a surprise raid in East Delhi and confiscated plastic bottles alleged to contain injections of oxytocin, a drug that is routinely misused by a section of dairy operators and farmers. Oxytocin is a peptide hormone used in multiple situations such as induction of labour, haemorrhage, and control of postpartum bleeding, among others. Dubious manufacture and sale of oxytocin have led to its serious misuse, which is dangerous to both human beings and animals.
According to a Union Health Ministry communique, a case was registered against the person who runs the store, which, the ministry informs, did not have a license to sell or distribute the drug, under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules, 1945. The raids were conducted on several dairies, chemist shops, and departmental stores in Ghazipur situated in East Delhi. The search team seized plastic bottles of both 200 ml and 100 ml capacities, assumed to contain oxytocin injections, from a departmental store run by a person named Rajinder Pal Sethi, and sent for relevant tests and analysis.
A case was registered against the accused person at the Ghazipur police station for breaching the provisions of Section 18 (c) r/w 27(b) (ii) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the prosecution processes was initiated, informed a Ministry statement. Earlier in 2015, CDSCO had raided several locations in Ghazipur, resulting in the confiscation of a large number of oxytocin bottles from unauthorized premises and stores. At that time, two people were held and prosecution was initiated against those accused and the case is under trial before a Delhi court.