NEW DELHI / RankWire.AI / – India has issued a nationwide public health advisory concerning two Pakistan-origin skin whitening products after laboratory tests revealed high levels of heavy metals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation issued an alert on September 8, naming Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream. The authority clarified that both items lack the necessary authorization for import and sale within India. It further warned that the presence of excessive heavy metals could lead to toxic health effects. Consumers are advised to cease purchasing or using these cosmetic products immediately.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation explained that the products do not possess valid registration certificates from the appropriate Indian regulatory body. All imported cosmetics and their manufacturing sites must undergo registration prior to being legally marketed in India. The Cosmetics Rules, 2020, along with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, establish these registration prerequisites. The national warning did not specify which heavy metals were detected in each cream, nor did it provide laboratory concentration data, tested batch numbers, or importer details.
Officials instructed vendors, distributors, and advertisers to refrain from promoting Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream within India. Enforcement agencies were also directed to take action against unauthorized sales in their jurisdictions. Consumers received guidance to scrutinize product labels and registration information before purchasing imported cosmetics. Labels should include key manufacturing and product details as mandated by Indian regulations. Additionally, authorities urged the public to report any suspected violations involving imported cosmetic products to the relevant regulatory bodies.
Regulatory focus on import compliance and proper labeling
India’s cosmetics legislation mandates that importers obtain approval from the Central Licensing Authority prior to bringing foreign cosmetics into the market. To do so, applicants must submit Form COS-1 under the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, to seek an import registration certificate. Approved certificates are issued through Form COS-2. The rules also require essential information to enable traceability throughout the supply chain, covering both imported products and their overseas manufacturing sites. The alert highlights how these two whitening creams are subject to this broader regulatory framework.
In Maharashtra, official records have documented tested samples of Goree Beauty Cream failing to meet quality standards, specifically citing mercury content violations and misbranding issues. These findings relate only to the particular samples tested by state authorities and do not confirm that every Goree product contains the same mercury levels. The national alert, however, uses more general language, citing the presence of excessive heavy metals in the two creams without specifying each individual metal involved.
Consumers urged to avoid the two specified skin creams
The official notice from India does not report any confirmed cases of health issues associated with Goree Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream. Nor does it name specific distributors, retailers, or sales channels involved in their distribution. The focus remains on regulatory status, laboratory test results, and consumer safety measures. Authorities advise the public not to purchase or use these products, while businesses are instructed to halt sales, distribution, and advertising of both creams. These directives are enforced nationwide through state, union territory, and central authorities.
This warning renews scrutiny on imported skin whitening products that have been sold without proper Indian approval. Consumers are advised to verify labels and registration details carefully before making a purchase. It is particularly important to avoid the two creams mentioned in the September 8 notice. The regulatory action emphasizes concerns over elevated heavy metals and the absence of import authorization. Both Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream are considered unauthorized cosmetics under Indian law, as confirmed by the drug regulator.