Public warned against dubious cosmetics

Irangika Range

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando has ordered Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Chairman Rumi Marzook to conduct raids and nab persons engaged in the illegal promotion of face creams and soaps by placing advertisements in magazines and the Internet.

The instructions were given after it came to light that certain tradesmen were importing low quality face creams and soaps into the country and refilling and relabelling them under expensive trade names to be sold for exorbitant prices.

The CAA received information about illegal promotion of face creams and soaps which have been advertised after changing their labels and without publishing the address of importer, producer, prices, expiry date and registered date in their advertisements. Only personal contact numbers are published and once the order is placed, the traders delivered the products to the address requested by consumers.

The CAA’s special investigation unit checked some numbers mentioned along with the advertisements and discovered the racket where low quality imported face creams are imported and sent to the local market after refiling and relabelling. The CAA has also received information that certain face creams are promoted in Sri Lanka claiming that these would whiten the skin within a few weeks.

Minister Fernando said these brands of face creams and soaps have not even been registered in the country and most were found in local supermarkets. The minister warned the public against purchasing brands not registered in Sri Lanka.