Thrissur (Kerala): The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has launched a major crackdown on the cosmetics and beauty market to ensure compliance with safety standards. In the initial phase, regulatory bodies are focusing strictly on hair dyes and coloring agents. Furthermore, the authorities have issued a stern warning against unverified cosmetic injections that falsely promise weight loss or body contouring.

With millions of people regularly using hair dyes to cover grey hair, the market is currently flooded with a vast range of products. These include items from prominent global brands, inexpensive unbranded options, imported goods and locally manufactured varieties. Industry experts emphasise that the repeated application of substandard dyes can severely impact health, which prompted the CDSCO to issue this new directive.

Under the new guidelines, manufacturers and distributors must strictly adhere to the Cosmetics Rules and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) criteria before bringing hair dyes to the market. Companies are now legally required to print a clear, legible list of all ingredients—including the specific colouring agents used—directly on the product packaging.

In addition, warnings regarding potential restrictions on use, probability of allergic reactions and instructions for mandatory safety patch tests must be prominently displayed. The regulatory body also recently clarified that any injectable substances claiming to reduce body weight or reverse ageing do not qualify as cosmetics and will face distinct regulatory scrutiny.