CDSCO Alert: Unauthorised Whitening Creams From Pakistan Contain Heavy Metals Beyond Limits
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public alert against the sale and use of two cosmetic products manufactured in Pakistan, stating that they are unauthorised in India and contain heavy metals above prescribed limits.
In a public notice dated September 8, 2026, the national drug regulator named the products as ‘Goree Beauty Cream’ and ‘Chandni Whitening Cream’. According to the notice, no trade registration certificate has been issued to their manufacturers, and the products are therefore not permitted to be sold or distributed in the country.
Under Indian law, a manufacturer must obtain a licence from the State Licensing Authority to make cosmetics for sale or distribution. Cosmetics imported into India must be registered with the Central Licensing Authority — the CDSCO — in accordance with prescribed rules. The notice said the two products meet neither requirement.
The regulator also said that excessive levels of heavy metals were found in the products, beyond specified limits. It cautioned that such products may pose health risks to consumers, including toxic effects.
Heavy metals are restricted or prohibited in cosmetics in India because of their long-term health effects. Mercury, for instance, is not permitted in cosmetics under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, while metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium are subject to strict limits. Repeated use of products containing them beyond permissible levels can cause skin damage and allergic reactions and, in cases of prolonged exposure, harm to the kidneys and the nervous system.
The CDSCO has advised consumers not to purchase or use the two named products. It has also asked people who may have already bought them, or similarly named cosmetic products, to stop using them.
The notice directed all concerned establishments and individuals to refrain from selling, distributing or advertising these products. State drug control authorities are expected to act on any stock found in the market, since cosmetics manufactured and sold within the country are regulated at the state level, while imports fall under the central regulator.
Cosmetic products sold legally in India carry a manufacturing or import licence number on the label. The CDSCO has previously advised consumers to check for this number and to report suspicious products through its grievance channels.
Consumers who experience skin irritation, rashes or other adverse reactions after using a cosmetic product are advised to consult a doctor and report the matter to the State Drug Controller or the CDSCO. The full text of the public notice is available on the CDSCO website.
The alert is part of continuing action by the regulator against unapproved and misbranded cosmetics in the market. The notice applies specifically to the two products named.
