NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – India has issued an extensive public health advisory concerning two Pakistan-produced skin whitening products after laboratory analyses revealed elevated levels of heavy metals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued a warning on September 8 regarding Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream. According to the agency, both items lacked the necessary authorization for import and sale within India. The regulatory body also cautioned that the presence of heavy metals at these levels could lead to toxic health effects. Consumers are urged to cease purchasing or using these cosmetics immediately.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation clarified that the products do not possess valid registration certificates from the appropriate Indian authorities. As per Indian law, imported cosmetics and their manufacturing facilities must be registered prior to being sold legally in the country. The Cosmetics Rules, 2020, along with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, set forth these registration requirements. The alert did not specify which heavy metals were found in each cream, nor did it provide laboratory concentration data, batch numbers tested, or details about the importers involved.
Regulatory authorities have instructed sellers, distributors, and advertisers not to promote Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream within India. Enforcement agencies have also been directed to take action against unlicensed sales activities in their jurisdictions. Consumers are advised to verify labeling and registration status prior to purchasing imported cosmetics, ensuring labels contain the essential manufacturing and product details mandated by Indian regulations. Officials further encouraged the public to report any suspected violations concerning imported cosmetics to the relevant authorities.
Focus on import compliance and labeling standards
India’s cosmetics regulatory framework mandates that importers obtain approval from the Central Licensing Authority before bringing foreign cosmetics into the domestic market. To secure an import registration, applicants must fill out Form COS-1 under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Once approved, authorities issue certificates via Form COS-2. These regulations also require detailed information to enable traceability along the supply chain, covering both imported products and the manufacturing sites overseas. The warning situates the two named whitening creams within this broader regulatory system for imported cosmetics.
In Maharashtra, official records have listed tested samples of Goree Beauty Cream as failing to meet quality standards. These records indicated issues with mercury content and classified the samples as misbranded. It is important to note that these findings relate specifically to the tested batches tested by state authorities and do not confirm that every Goree product contains the same mercury levels. The national alert broadly mentions excessive heavy metals in both creams without identifying the specific metals involved.
Public urged to avoid two specific creams
The Indian alert does not report confirmed cases of illness linked to Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream, nor does it specify the distributors, retailers, or sales channels involved. The primary emphasis is on the regulatory status, laboratory findings, and consumer safety measures. Authorities have instructed the public to refrain from purchasing or using the products, and businesses are likewise ordered not to sell, distribute, or promote them. These instructions are enforced nationwide through state, union territory, and central agencies.
This warning intensifies scrutiny of imported skin whitening products being sold without the necessary Indian approvals. Consumers are advised to be diligent by checking product labels and registration details before making a purchase. Specifically, they should avoid the two creams named in the September 8 notice, which have been linked to excessive heavy metals and lack import authorization. The regulatory authority continues to classify both Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream as unauthorized cosmetics within India’s market.