In the latest round of crackdown on manufacturing and selling of spurious cosmetics, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detected several cases of manufacturing and selling spurious cosmetics of reputed brands. It has started prosecution against three people and one firm involved in manufacturing without license and selling of spurious products.

Based on a tip-off, three premises across Mumbai in Andheri were raided and spurious products worth over Rs.10 lakh were seized to curtail its further distribution.

The crackdown revealed spurious cosmetics were manufactured and allegedly sold in packs of reputed brand of Loreal to gullible customers through super markets and beauty parlours.

People involved has been identified as Khingar Ravaria who used to source out semi-finished products like shampoo, cream, ointment, oil and other products of the reputed brand and also the packaging material of Loreal brand for further refilling and repacking for sale through online mode also. The products used to be sold online through a Mumbai based company Bio Cosmetics.

Maharashtra FDA along with police have arrested these people in this connection and prosecution will be soon launched. Other people involved are named as Poojari and Henry D’ Souza.

The matter is however under investigation to assess the quantum of the crime and violation as the manufacturer might be selling it to others clients and customers, according to an FDA official.

The cosmetics were being manufactured and sold in contravention to Section 27(a) (1) and Section 17 D (d) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

FDA had last year made a massive crackdown against manufacturers of steroid-laden skin creams for making false claims of making a person fair in contravention to the labeling conditions of the Drug Rules.

Being advertised and sold in the brand names - ClearSkin, SuperGlow and Skinbrite, these creams were being sold as OTC drugs and have ingredients like hydroquinone, tretinoin and mometasone furoate which are actually meant to treat skin disorders based on a doctor’s supervision.