Hindustan Unilever gets DCGI notice for ‘anti-Covid’ soap ad

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, June 19

The apex drug regulator has served a show cause notice on Hindustan Unilever over advertisement of a soap claiming anti-Covid therapeutic properties while being a cosmetic.

In the notice, that relates to Lifebuoy Virus Fighter soap, Drug Controller General of India VG Somani has said while the product in question was licensed as a cosmetic under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, it is being advertised as a drug which is a violation of the law.

“From the manufacturing licence it is clear that the licence was issued treating Lifebuoy virus Fighter soap as a cosmetic. It has been brought to our notice that the advertisement issued by Hindustan Unilever for Lifebuoy Virus Fighter Cosmetic Soap in TV media, social media, has misleading claims of having prophylactic properties, hence prevents and mitigates viral infection in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act by showing pictorial depiction of Covid-19 virus suggesting Lifebuoy Virus Fighter is effective to destroy/prevent viral infection,” said the Drug controller, noting that the claims made by the product place it in the category of a drug which it is not.

The drug regulator said Lifebuoy soap manufactured under a licence issued for cosmetics cannot make therapeutic claims under the law as it is not licensed as a drug. The DCGI has asked the company to respond in a week.