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Pakistan whitening creams sold on Amazon, Flipkart, CDSCO warns
India's drug regulator has warned against two unauthorised Pakistani cosmetics, Goree beauty cream and Chandni whitening cream, found for sale on major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart. The Central Drugs Standard…
India's drug regulator has warned against two unauthorised Pakistani cosmetics, Goree beauty cream and Chandni whitening cream, found for sale on major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said in a September 8 notice that the creams lack mandatory import registration certificates and contain excessive heavy metals beyond specified limits, posing health risks including toxic effects.
Despite a 2021 government ban on all direct or indirect imports from Pakistan, the products were listed as 'Made in India' on platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Tata 1mg, and Snapdeal. Amazon and Meesho have since begun delisting the products after regulatory scrutiny, while an Amazon spokesperson said the platform removes non-compliant listings upon directions from authorities. Regulatory experts flagged enforcement gaps, pointing to possible rerouting through the UAE and Nepal.
The CDSCO has directed all state regulatory units and port authorities to prevent the sale of these unauthorised cosmetics and has asked establishments not to sell, distribute, or advertise the two products.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade's August 2021 order banned all direct or indirect trade with Pakistan, yet these products reached consumers through e-commerce platforms that rely on seller self-declaration. The CDSCO notice exposes a structural gap: India's drug regulator issues alerts, but enforcement depends on state authorities and platform compliance teams that act only after being notified. Online marketplaces operate as intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which exempts them from liability for third-party listings until they receive official notice. The practical question is whether the government will mandate pre-listing verification of import registration certificates or tighten the country-of-origin declaration rules for cosmetics. The next step for CDSCO will be to coordinate with state drug controllers and the commerce ministry to trace how these products entered India through third countries like the UAE or Nepal.
Source: rediff.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
