The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a nationwide public health warning regarding the sale and distribution of unauthorized cosmetic products imported from Pakistan. The strict regulatory notice highlights severe health concerns linked to popular skin-lightening items available through various online and offline channels.
Which Products Have Been Flagged by Regulators?
In a public notice issued by its Cosmetics Division, the drug regulator specifically named two widely circulated products: Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, both labeled as manufactured in Pakistan.
According to laboratory testing and verification conducted by the CDSCO, these items have never been issued a formal registration certificate by the competent authority for legal import and commercial sale in India. Furthermore, analysis confirmed that the creams contain dangerous levels of heavy metals exceeding specified safety limits.
Why Are These Whitening Creams Dangerous?
Cosmetic safety standards in India are strictly governed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Imported cosmetics must complete mandatory registration with the Central Licensing Authority to ensure consumer safety.
The unauthorized presence of heavy metals—such as mercury—in skin-lightening formulations poses severe toxic risks to human health. Prolonged dermal absorption of heavy metals can lead to chronic skin irritation, systemic toxicity, and long-term damage to vital organs like the kidneys and the nervous system. Because these products bypass formal regulatory testing, consumers face hidden dangers without proper ingredient transparency.
What Should Consumers and Sellers Do Next?
The CDSCO has issued clear instructions to safeguard public health across the country:
Consumers: Avoid purchasing or using Goree Beauty Cream, Chandni Whitening Cream, or any similarly named unauthorized alternatives. If already purchased, discontinue use immediately.
Retailers and E-commerce Platforms: All local vendors, distributors, and online marketplaces have been strictly warned against selling, distributing, or advertising these unauthorized cosmetics.
Enforcement Agencies: State and Union Territory drug controllers, alongside CDSCO port offices, have been directed to monitor local markets and block the entry and circulation of these items.
Regulators urge citizens to check product labels carefully before buying cosmetics, ensuring they display valid manufacturing license numbers, batch details, expiration dates, and official import registration numbers.