NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – India has issued a nationwide health alert concerning two Pakistan-origin skin whitening products following lab tests revealing high levels of toxic heavy metals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued an alert on September 8 regarding Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, stating that both lacked proper authorization for sale and import in India. The regulator warned that the elevated heavy metal content could lead to harmful health effects and urged consumers to cease purchasing or using these products.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation clarified that neither product possessed valid registration certificates from the appropriate Indian authorities. As per India’s regulations, imported cosmetics and their manufacturing facilities must undergo registration before they can be legally sold within the country. These requirements are outlined in the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, in conjunction with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The notice did not specify which heavy metals were detected or include laboratory concentration levels, batch numbers, or details about importers.
Authorities have instructed sellers, distributors, and advertisers to stop marketing Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream in India. Enforcement agencies have also been directed to take action against unauthorized sales within their jurisdictions. Consumers are advised to verify labeling and registration information before buying imported cosmetics, ensuring labels contain essential manufacturing and product details as mandated by Indian regulations. Consumers are also encouraged to report any suspected violations related to imported cosmetics to the relevant authorities.
Focus on Import Regulations and Labeling Standards
India’s cosmetics import process requires that approval from the Central Licensing Authority be obtained prior to market entry. To acquire an import registration certificate, applicants must submit Form COS-1 under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Approved certificates are issued via Form COS-2. The regulations also mandate the inclusion of supply chain traceability information, covering imported products and their overseas manufacturing sites. The warning regarding the two whitening creams places them within this broader regulatory framework.
In Maharashtra, separate records have identified tested samples of Goree Beauty Cream as substandard, citing failures related to mercury levels and labeling issues. These findings pertain only to specific samples tested by state authorities and do not imply all products of that brand contain the same mercury levels. The national alert mentions the presence of excessive heavy metals in the two named creams but does not specify each individual metal involved.
Consumers Urged to Avoid the Two Specific Products
The official notice does not confirm any cases of illness linked to Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream, nor does it identify particular distributors, retailers, or sales channels involved in their circulation. The focus remains on regulatory compliance, laboratory findings, and consumer protection measures. Authorities have advised the public against purchasing or using these products, while businesses have been instructed not to sell, distribute, or promote them. These directives are enforced across India through state, union territory, and central government agencies.
This alert emphasizes the ongoing scrutiny of imported skin whitening products sold without the necessary Indian approvals. Consumers are encouraged to carefully check product labels and registration details before making a purchase. They should specifically avoid the two creams mentioned in the September 8 notice, which are associated with excessive heavy metals and missing import authorizations. The Indian drug regulator continues to consider Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream as unauthorized products in the domestic market.