CDSCO warns against Pakistani Gori, Chandni creams over toxic heavy metals

Many people use various fairness creams available in the market to get fair and glowing skin. But this habit could now pose a serious health risk, as India's Drugs Controller General (DCGI) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have issued an important health warning to citizens. Toxic ingredients harmful to health have been found in two well-known cosmetics made in Pakistan and sold illegally in India.

In an official notice, CDSCO has directed the public to immediately boycott and completely stop using two Pakistani products, Chandni Whitening Cream and Gori Beauty Cream. Both creams were found to contain heavy metals far above the safe limits set for such products, which can cause serious toxic effects on the skin and body and lead to life-threatening illness in users.

The public health notice issued by the Indian drug regulator on the use of unapproved cosmetics reminded citizens of the country's strict rules. Any cosmetic sold or imported in India is regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, with safety standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). By law, any foreign product must be registered with the Central Licensing Authority and obtain an Import Registration Certificate to be sold or distributed in India, besides requiring permission from the State Licensing Authority. The inspection found that Gori Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, imported from Pakistan, have no such official licence or import certificate, meaning their sale in India is entirely illegal and amounts to smuggling.

These toxic creams, which claim to lighten skin, mainly use unrestricted amounts of mercury and other hazardous heavy metals. According to studies by the US FDA, many local or unapproved skin-lightening products contain very high levels of mercury. When applied to the skin, it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin's pores. This initially causes red rashes, skin darkening, burning and thinning of the skin. However, the biggest and most life-threatening damage is to the kidneys. Rising mercury levels in the blood gradually destroy kidney cells, which can lead to kidney failure or serious kidney disease. It can also adversely affect the nervous system, causing problems such as depression, memory loss and tremors.

Drug regulators have appealed to all citizens and consumers not to fall for advertisements in the market or on social media and buy such unlicensed foreign and unapproved cosmetics. Anyone with Gori Beauty Cream or Chandni Whitening Cream at home has been advised to stop using it immediately. People should always buy cosmetics from licensed and tested Indian or authorised brands, purchased only from approved shops or official e-commerce platforms. The authorities have also indicated strict action against shopkeepers and online sellers of fake cosmetics.