FDA seizes USD 5,285 illegal cosmetics in Mumbai amid consumer safety crackdown

INDIA – The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cracked down on misleading and unlicensed cosmetic products in Mumbai, seizing stock worth over ₹5 lakh (USD 5,285) during raids on two establishments in Kalbadevi and Kandivali. 

At Beauty Centre in Crawford Market, Kalbadevi, FDA officials discovered cosmetic products making outrageous claims, including breast enlargement, butt enhancement, fat burning, and skin improvement. 

The seized stock, valued at ₹1.2 lakh (USD 1,268), included various essential oil blends marketed with both therapeutic and cosmetic claims but, crucially, lacked mandatory details such as batch numbers, manufacturing licence numbers, and manufacturer information. 

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasized the department’s commitment, stating that they would continue their zero-tolerance approach towards misleading, substandard, and unlicensed products, with protecting consumers’ health and ensuring the availability of safe products remaining their foremost priorities. 

In a separate operation on June 13, FDA officials raided Radiant Creations in Kandivali (West) and found drugs and cosmetics manufactured without a valid licence, along with raw materials, machinery, and finished products intended for sale. 

They seized ₹3.97 lakh (USD 4,195) worth of drugs, cosmetics, raw materials, and equipment. 

Legal proceedings have been initiated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 against the establishments. 

This Mumbai action is part of broader FDA enforcement efforts, including a separate case in which the FDA stopped the sale of allegedly misbranded cosmetic products worth ₹29.45 lakh (USD 31,140) at a facility in Karad, Satara district, where the products lacked mandatory information on inner labels despite such information appearing on the outer packaging. 

This move comes amid India’s beauty boom, which is growing online, bringing new opportunities and risks. 

The market has surpassed USD 30 billion, driven by rising incomes, urbanization, and the explosive growth of e-commerce and quick commerce services, though this rapid expansion is raising concerns about whether regulatory oversight can keep pace with the industry’s digital transformation. 

According to organizers of Cosmetica 2026, scheduled for June 19–21, this billion-dollar milestone signals that global beauty brands increasingly view India not merely as a consumer market but as a strategic hub for innovation, manufacturing, and product development. 

Ceyril Perira, managing director at Triune Exhibitors Private Limited (TEPL), the official event organizer, emphasizes that premium skin care, colour cosmetics, men’s grooming, and natural Ayurvedic products are among the key categories fueling the country’s cosmetics surge. 

Amazon India has announced plans to add over 100 premium beauty brands through 2026, including Dolce & Gabbana, La Roche-Posay, and Paula’s Choice, capitalising on the nationwide surge in e-commerce-driven beauty purchases. 

With a growing Gen-Z and millennial consumer base equipped with rising disposable incomes, India is emerging as a strategic launchpad for new products, while tier-two and tier-three cities like Thrissur and Guwahati now drive over half of premium beauty demand. 

However, as international giants double down on their involvement in India’s beauty sector, operators dealing in unlicensed and counterfeit products are also increasing in number, with rapid growth and monetary potential fueling an influx of unregulated and hazardous cosmetics circulating in the market.

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