The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) slapped notices to e-commerce giants -Amazon and Flipkart for allegedly selling “spurious and adulterated” cosmetics including imported brands.
The authority has been warned of severe actions in case of failing to respond within 10 days. The DGCI has warned them of penal action for “offering for sale, sale, and distribution of spurious, adulterated cosmetics and cosmetics manufactured without a valid license in contravention of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.”
The law provides for penal actions ranging from monetary fine to imprisonment for sale of such “unapproved” products.
The notice from DCGI follows raids by drug inspectors at various locations across the country on October 5-6, during which they found that some indigenously manufactured cosmetics without valid manufacturing license and having ingredients imported without necessary registration certificates were being sold on the e-commerce platforms.
“Amazon.in is a third-party marketplace which enables sellers to list their products for sale to Indian customers. Sellers on Amazon.in own their respective products and are responsible for product compliances, as may be applicable.”
“Amazon.in has a very high bar of customer experience and does take strict action against sellers who are selling illegal or fake products in accordance with the due process of law, as and when such incidents are reported to us,” the spokesperson told PTI.
After PTI contacted the Amazon India, the company told that it will take strict action against sellers of “illegal or fake products” as and when such incidents are reported to it.
Among cosmetics being sold by these websites included imported brands without valid documents and containing ingredients in the “negative list” of the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards).
Under the Drug and Cosmetics Act, it is mandatory to get a registration certificate for the import of cosmetics into India, while all cosmetics manufactured in the country need to have a valid license.
Besides, cosmetics need to conform to the standards laid down by the BIS and cannot have any ingredient mentioned in its negative list.
(With inputs from PTI)
