Published
Continental Marketing Pty Ltd has issued a national voluntary recall of certain cosmetic products after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission raised concerns that the products did not have the correct ingredient labelling.
The mandatory information standard for cosmetics requires that the ingredients be listed on the container or on the product itself if the product is not packed in a container, or alternatively, a list of ingredients be available to consumers at the point of sale.
The cosmetic products, which includes various Godrej and Emami branded hair dyes, were imported by Continental Marketing Pty Ltd and sold in Indian specialty stores across Australia since September 2007.
After contact from the ACCC, Continental Marketing Pty Ltd voluntarily removed the products at the retail level and is conducting a national consumer recall.
A list of the products which did not have the correct labelling will be published in the October 2008 edition of the Indus Age, an Indian community paper. More details about the recall are available at www.recalls.gov.au.
"Cosmetic suppliers must ensure products they sell comply with the cosmetics information standard or they risk breaching the Trade Practices Act," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today. "Proper ingredient labelling of cosmetics lets consumers identify those products with ingredients which may irritate, or cause an allergic reaction.
"Importers, in particular, need to check the products they are bringing into the country. This includes products being supplied through online auction sites such as eBay. The ACCC is concerned about the recent increase in the number of online traders found to have been supplying products which do not comply with the mandatory standards."
Suppliers of goods which fail to comply with the relevant mandatory product information standard could face penalties of up to $1.1 million for companies and $220,000 for individuals.
Contact details
Media inquiries
Mr Graeme Samuel, Chairman, 0408 335 555
Ms Lin Enright, Director, Media Unit, 0414 613 520
Release # NR 282/08
General inquiries
Infocentre 1300 302 502
Responsible regulator
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
