Shah Alam Nur :
Adulterated cosmetics and toiletries using the false names of leading local and foreign brands are randomly sold in the markets across the country, putting public health at risk, sources said.
And at the same time, the government is being deprived of huge revenue though the annual transaction is about Tk 150 billion.
Many of the users of these counterfeit beauty and sanitary items develop skin diseases, including skin cancer.
“Some chemicals used in cosmetics products are harmful for health. Mostly substandard and cheap cosmetics products contain these chemicals that may cause severe skin diseases,” Dr Harun-ur-Rashid, Associate Professor of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital (SSMCH) said.
He said, “For instance, some skin brightening creams have chemicals that create an extra layer on the skin to prevent contact with sunlight, which can have adverse effects in the long run. It may even lead to skin cancer.”
Unscrupulous local manufacturers produce counterfeit products of popular brands using poor quality materials while a huge amount of cheap cosmetics products are imported from India, China, Taiwan and other Asian countries.
The substandard cosmetics are sold at footpaths and modern shopping malls. A number of syndicates are involved with making and selling these products, the sources said.
According to a study carried out by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) have not certified these cosmetics.
Beauty products of nearly all renowned international cosmetics brands are imported into Bangladesh at a high cost.
The world leading products are L’Oreal, Revlon, Estee Lauder, Max Factor, Avon, Maybelline, MAC Cosmetics, Garnier, Elizabeth Arden, Lalique, bareMinerals, BeBeautiful, Bioré, Biotherm, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Clinique, CoverGirl, Crabtree and Evelyn, Dior, Essie, Frederic Fekkai, Fusion Beauty, Giorgio Armani, Guerlain, Nivea, Lakme, and Emami.
Most of foreign cosmetic products are imported from the USA, Germany, France, the Middle East, China, Thailand and India and so.
The local products are body spray, soap, lotion, makeup boxes, shampoo, snow, cream, powder, face-wash, leap liner, mascara, lipstick, nail polish, nail polish remover, liquid makeup, eye-shadow, and pain tick.
These are sold openly. The customers cannot most of the times cannot differentiate between fake and real products and the purchase price is less than that of the real brand products.
Sources in the law-enforcement department said, a number of fake cosmetics factories have been set up on both sides of Buriganga River. Fake products are available at Companyganj, Zinjira, Kalindi of Keraniganj, Chawkbazar, Begumbazar, Rahmatganj, Islambagh, Barokatara, Chhotokatara and Kamrangirchar.
Sources said, a number of supermarkets at Chawkbazar Chawk supermarket, Chawk Muogalatuli, Mansur Plaza, Mumtaz Market, Khan Market, Friendship Market, Johan Market, Shamim Market, Eastern Plaza, Plaza Muscat in Uttara are selling fake cosmetics.
The syndicates are producing fake products of Square Toiletries, Kohinoor Chemical and Lalbagh Chemicals, Unilever, Hugo, Ferrari, Poison, Royal, Havoc and Cobra brands by using labels.
