The move demonstrates a clear attempt by the Indian authorities to update, improve and tighten the regulation of the cosmetics and personal care industry, one that consumer watch dogs have been campaigning to make more wide reaching in recent years.
The primary aim of the regulation is to ensure higher safety standards of products, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that formulations remain free of potentially toxic or dangerous ingredients.
The new categories include a cross-section of commonly used products, most of which are becoming increasingly popular on the back of significant growth in the market for cosmetics and personal care products in the country.
The newly added products categories include:
- Liquid foundation make-up
- Cold wax hair remover
- Face packs
- Kajal
- Oxidation hair dyes
- Cream bleach
The products will now be governed by schedule S of the drugs and cosmetics act, which dictates a series of specific safety guidelines for the production and distribution of specified products, prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
There are currently 29 products under schedule S, and the decision to add the latest six products to the ruling was mooted back in February of this year, during the 45th meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee in Mumbai.
Authorities upgrade requirements on imported cosmetics
In recent months authorities in India have also been focusing on upgrading rules concerning the import of cosmetics into the country.
Registration for the importation of cosmetics ranging from skin care to hair care products became mandatory in India from April 1, 2013, with new guidelines being issued to facilitate the registration process.
The latest guidelines state, “All cosmetic products that are imported for sale in India need to be registered with the licensing authority as defined under Rule 21 of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945.”
An application for registration in Form-42, along with all requisite documents, now has to be submitted to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).