12 Cetaphil bottles with 2028 expiry found to be ‘spurious’: What happened?

Maharashtra FDA Identifies 12 Cetaphil Bottles with 2028 Expiry as Counterfeit

12 Cetaphil bottles with 2028 expiry - In a recent operation, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered 12 fake Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser bottles at a Pune-based retailer after an inspection flagged them as "spurious cosmetics." The products, though marked with a 2028 expiry date, were found to be imitations.

The seizure occurred on June 22, and authorities registered a case on the same day, as previously reported by HT. During the surprise visit to Om Chemist in Shivajinagar, Pune, FDA inspector Shrikant V Patil obtained a sample of the 118 ml cleanser labeled with batch number B5NA1110.

The product’s label indicated it was produced in December 2025 and was supposed to expire in December 2028. The cleanser is distributed in India by Galderma India Pvt Ltd and manufactured by Encube Ethicals Pvt Ltd.

Lab Analysis Reveals Packaging Discrepancies

Despite meeting quality standards in lab tests, the packaging, labels, print, and security elements showed discrepancies compared to authentic items. Upon verification by both the manufacturer and the marketing firm, it was confirmed that the seized bottles were not produced through their approved manufacturing procedures.

"Counterfeit medicines and cosmetics go beyond economic fraud and can endanger public health," stated FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.

Based on the findings, the FDA designated the products as "spurious cosmetics" under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. A case has been filed under Sections 318(4), 336(3), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, with ongoing investigations to trace the source of the counterfeit goods.