Cosmetics labels ‘unfair’, face ban

These companies will also have to list all ingredients used in the formulation of products, even if in a negligible percentage, he said.

In 1999, the Ministry had made it mandatory for companies to specify the expiry dates on labels. In 2003, they were asked to list their main contents.

‘‘However, some ingredients, even if they are not used in a large quantity, are found to be harmful, even carcinogenic. So cosmetics companies have to list all their ingredients and formulation,’’ said Dr Ramadoss.

The new proposal, the Minister said, is being finalised by the Drug Controller General and will be discussed at a consultative meeting on June 1, 2005 that will be attended by all state drug controllers. The proposal will then be send to the Drug Technical Advisory Board before reaching the Ministry for final approval. Relevant changes will also have to be made in the Drug and Cosmetic Act, the Minister said.

‘‘The law would be there in a few months,’’ said Dr Ramadoss.

‘‘The only problem is listing of all ingredients in ayurvedic products as once the formulation is mixed, you can’t identify the ingredients. But we will try to work it out as well,’’ he said.

The step is seen as a follow-up of the March 15, 2005 notice sent by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to Johnson and Johnson, asking the company to remove the word ‘baby’ from several of its products, terming it as ‘‘misleading’’. The chemicals used in baby products were in no way different from those used in other cosmetics products, officials said.

The FDA has also moved against companies selling slimming drugs through telemarketing and has seized samples and supplies of various products from the Mumbai outlet of the Hyderabad-based Ramson Marketing Private Limited. The matter has been referred to the Drug Controller General’s office in Delhi.