The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a directive requiring all manufacturers and importers of hair colour products in India to demonstrate compliance with safety standards and adequate consumer warnings. The circular, dated June 10, mandates adherence to the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, and applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms governing ingredients, safety restrictions, and labelling.
Regulatory Focus on Ingredient Safety
This move comes amid heightened regulatory attention on cosmetic products, particularly hair dyes. Some ingredients used in these products are subject to restrictions due to their potential to trigger allergic reactions or other adverse effects in sensitive users. CDSCO emphasized that hair colour products must comply with standards specifying which coloring ingredients are permissible, which substances are restricted, and what warnings, directions, and safety information must be displayed on labels.
Mandatory Warnings and Patch Tests
The regulator highlighted the need for mandatory caution statements and patch-test instructions to alert consumers about possible allergic reactions before use. BIS standards classify cosmetic ingredients into those generally recognized as safe and those that are restricted or not recognized as safe. Companies must report any changes in product composition, quality specifications, or labelling to the relevant licensing authority.
Implications for Manufacturers
While the circular does not announce a recall or enforcement action, it serves as a clear warning that companies are responsible for ensuring products already on the market meet prescribed standards. This directive could lead to re-examination of formulations, packaging, and consumer information for hair colour products, a category experiencing rapid growth due to demand from younger users and aging consumers seeking to conceal grey hair.
The Times of India reported that millions of Indians use hair colour products monthly. Anuja Jaiswal, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, contributed to this report.
