The state Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) tested a total of 14 samples of cosmetic and took strict action against those involved in the sale of duplicate cosmetics after finding them adulterated in Gujarat on Thursday.
Products like oil for men, herbal massage oil were being illegally manufactured and sold by advertising them on social media like Instagram and falsely promoting them on online platforms like Meesho in Surat, without any cosmetic license, using the license of another manufacturing firm, and putting attractive and misleading labels.
FDCA Commissioner Dr HG Koshiya said that officials raided the residential house of Rajesh Lathia in Surat and found a large quantity of packing material and boxes of duplicate products online.
Lathia, in collusion with his partners, was part of a racket of online branded duplicate cosmetics.
Junagadh FDCA team found a large quantity of duplicate cosmetic products from the house of Kuldeep Patoliya in Keshod, sold in partnership on the online platforms.
In addition, 14 samples of fake cosmetics were sent from their place for analysis and goods worth ₹55 lakh were seized.
Further, the Commissioner added that the team received information about the sale of fake cosmetics online in large quantities through social media by Kaushik Dharmeshbhai Raddiya, the owner of M/s Wrixty Ayurveda in Surat. Based on which, the teams raided Surat and caught the people who were selling fake cosmetics by printing false license numbers.
These people were bringing product labels and finished products etc. from agents of markets like Craft Market and Musafirkhana in Mumbai and producing them at their homes.
Further, a total of 5 samples were analyzed for sale and approximately ₹15 lakh worth of goods were seized for further action.
Pradipsinh Chhatrasinh Solanki, the manager of M/s Dulhan Enterprises at Pethapur, Gandhinagar, was found manufacturing duplicate cosmetic products of a branded company from his house.
Fake cosmetics like Zeba Zulf-E-Henna (Henna Powder) and Hair Color Natural Black were being manufactured in his house, on receiving information, a raid was conducted by the drug teams of the head office, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad Rural.
During this raid, M/S Excell Impex Gujarat Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad and M/S Yutvika Natural Pvt Ltd, Rajasthan were arrested for manufacturing duplicate products of the above brand of the company. In addition, 2 samples were taken from his place for analysis and the sale of goods worth ₹30 lakh was exposed and goods worth ₹1.5 lakh were seized.
These people used to get packing-printing materials etc. printed from Hirenbhai, owner of M/s Shlok Industries, Naroda, Ahmedabad and did not keep any bills or records in this regard.
