Maharashtra may regulate sale of cosmetics

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, July 7

The Maharashtra Government is considering issuing licenses for retailers who sell cosmetics in order to combat the sale and distribution of spurious products.

As per a proposal put out by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only retailers holding appropriate licenses should be allowed to sell cosmetics. Under the proposal sale of cosmetics by door-to-door sales persons and unauthorised personnel are sought to be banned.

"Once cosmetics come under the ambit of licensing the FDA will be able to seize spurious cosmetic products and prosecute those found selling cosmetics without a license," and FDA official said.

The FDA's proposal comes weeks after the authorities busted a racket involving sale of spurious cosmetics under well-known international brand names. Police said the racketeers were sourcing semi-finished and discarded cosmetic products that were being illegally packed and sold in recycled packaging material.

State government authorities are also working with manufacturers of cosmetics to get their wares sold in tamper-proof packaging.

At present, chemists in Maharashtra are licensed to sell drugs and cosmetics. However, general provision storeowners and even housewives are allowed to sell cosmetics using informal networks.