NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – India has issued a nationwide health alert regarding two Pakistan-produced skin whitening products after laboratory tests revealed high levels of heavy metals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued an alert on September 8, identifying Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream. The authority stated that both products lacked proper authorization for import and sale in India, warning that the heavy metal concentrations found could pose toxic risks. Consumers are advised to cease purchase and use of these cosmetics.
The regulatory body clarified that the products lacked valid registration certificates from the appropriate Indian agency. All imported cosmetics and their manufacturing sites must be registered before they can be legally sold in India. These requirements are outlined under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, in conjunction with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The alert did not specify which heavy metals were detected in each cream, nor did it disclose laboratory concentration levels, tested batch numbers, or the names of importers involved.
Authorities have instructed sellers, distributors, and advertisers not to promote Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream within India. Enforcement agencies are also directed to take action against unauthorized sales within their jurisdictions. Consumers are urged to verify labels and registration details before purchasing imported cosmetics. Labels should display key manufacturing and product information as mandated by Indian regulations. Officials also encourage the public to report any suspected violations related to imported cosmetics to the relevant authorities.
Focus on Import Compliance and Proper Labeling
India’s cosmetics regulations require importers to obtain approval from the Central Licensing Authority prior to introducing foreign cosmetics into the domestic market. To get an import registration certificate, applicants must submit Form COS-1 under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Approved certificates are issued via Form COS-2. These rules also mandate detailed information to help regulators track products through the supply chain, covering both imported items and overseas manufacturing facilities. The alert places the two mentioned whitening creams within this broader regulatory framework.
Maharashtra’s official records list tested samples of Goree Beauty Cream as not meeting quality standards. These records cite failures related to mercury levels and classify the samples as misbranded. However, these findings only apply to the specific samples tested and do not confirm that all Goree products contain the same mercury content. The nationwide warning uses more general language, citing excessive heavy metals in the two named creams without identifying each individual metal.
Consumers Urged to Steer Clear of the Two Specific Products
The Indian alert does not mention confirmed cases of illness linked to Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream. Nor does it name particular distributors, retailers, or sales channels involved in their distribution. The focus remains on regulatory compliance, laboratory testing results, and consumer safety measures. Authorities have explicitly advised the public against purchasing or using these creams. Retailers and distributors have been instructed not to sell, distribute, or promote these products across India, with enforcement actions expected at state, union territory, and central levels.
This warning highlights ongoing scrutiny of imported skin whitening products lacking necessary Indian approvals. Consumers are advised to carefully verify product labels and registration details before making a purchase. The specific mention of Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream in the September 8 notice underscores the concern over excess heavy metals and missing import authorizations. The regulatory response classifies both products as unauthorized cosmetics in India, with the drug regulator continuing to treat them as illicit in the domestic market.