Toxics Link demands nationwide ban after Maharashtra crackdown on toxic skin lightening creams

By A Representative 

Environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has commended the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for its decisive action against nine cosmetic products found to contain excessive levels of mercury and lead. The organisation is now urgently calling for this action to be replicated nationwide through a comprehensive ban on the sale of mercury-containing skin lightening products.

In a public alert issued on July 10, 2026, the Maharashtra FDA declared nine cosmetic products—eight creams and one soap—as "Not of Standard Quality" following laboratory analysis. The products, which include Skinia Korean Goree Beauty Cream, Face Fresh Gold Plus Beauty Cream and Serum, and Goree Whitening Soap, were found to contain mercury levels exceeding prescribed limits, with one product also containing dangerous levels of lead. Most of these products are manufactured in Pakistan and were found to be misbranded, lacking mandatory labelling information such as manufacturing and expiry dates. They were largely being sold to the public through e-commerce platforms.

A Critical Health Intervention

Welcoming the state regulator's prompt response, Toxics Link stressed that this intervention is a critical public health measure that must be implemented across the country.

"The Maharashtra FDA has demonstrated that regulatory vigilance can protect consumers from hazardous products. However, restricting action to one state is not enough. Toxic cosmetics do not respect state boundaries," said Satish Sinha, Associate Director of Toxics Link. "India urgently needs a nationwide ban on mercury-containing skin-lightening products, backed by strict enforcement and sustained public awareness."

Toxics Link has previously released multiple reports highlighting the prevalence of mercury in skin lightening creams available in the Indian market. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can damage the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. When applied to the skin, it is easily absorbed, posing serious health risks. Pregnant women, infants, and young children are especially vulnerable as mercury exposure can impair neurological development . The continued use of these products also contributes to environmental contamination as mercury enters wastewater systems.

A Violation of International Commitments

The continued availability of these products is inconsistent with the objectives of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution, to which India is a Party. The convention explicitly bans the manufacture, import, and export of mercury-added cosmetics.

The organisation noted that the marketing of these products exploits deep-seated social biases around skin colour, exposing consumers to dangerous toxic substances without their knowledge.

Urgent Recommendations for Government Action

Toxics Link has urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to take immediate action. Key demands include:

· Prohibiting the manufacture, import, sale, and distribution of all mercury-containing skin lightening cosmetics across India.

· Strengthening surveillance and routine testing of cosmetic products in physical and online markets .

· Ensuring swift product recalls and strict enforcement against violators.

· Improving customs oversight to prevent the import of non-compliant products.