Safety · 8 min read
CDSCO Alert on Goree & Chandni Creams: What It Says, What to Do
CDSCO flagged Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream on 8 September 2026 for excess heavy metals. What the notice says and how to check any cosmetic.
On 8 September 2026, the Cosmetics Division of India's drug regulator, CDSCO, issued a public health alert about two products: Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream, both labelled "Made in Pakistan". This page sets out what the notice says, what has been reported since, and what to do if you have either product. We have kept to facts from the regulator and credible reports; where something is only reported, we say so.
What CDSCO's notice says
- Both products are unauthorised: they had not been issued the registration certificate that India requires for imported cosmetics.
- Testing found heavy metals above the specified limits. The notice doesn't name the metal or give a concentration.
- CDSCO advised people not to buy or use either product, and not to use similar products sold under the same names.
- State and Union Territory drug controllers, and CDSCO's zone, sub-zone and port offices, were asked to make sure unauthorised cosmetics aren't sold in their areas.
What has been reported since
These details come from news reports and a civil-society group, not from CDSCO, so treat them as reported.
- Pimpri-Chinchwad police are reported to have seized stock of Pakistan-made whitening creams in late September, and Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration reportedly found mercury above the legal limit in a sample (Boldsky).
- The environmental group Toxics Link reported that such creams are still being sold online despite the alert. It said seven of eight products it tested had mercury between 7,331 and 27,431 parts per million (Counterview).
- Maharashtra's FDA had earlier acted against nine skin-lightening products in July, after a Toxics Link campaign (UNEP).
Why mercury in a face cream is a problem
Under India's Cosmetics Rules 2020, the mercury limit in cosmetics is 1 part per million, as an unintentional trace impurity. Mercury added deliberately to lighten skin is not allowed. The World Health Organization has said mercury in skin-lightening products can damage the kidneys and nervous system and can cause rashes, discolouration and scarring. We're not in a position to say what any individual's exposure has done, because it depends on the product, the amount and how long it was used.
If you have used one of these creams
Stop using it. If you have symptoms such as a new rash, swelling, tingling or numbness, unusual fatigue, mood changes or anything else that worries you, see a doctor and tell them the product's name. Keep the pack, as it helps with reporting.
How to check any cosmetic before you buy
None of these steps is foolproof, but together they cut the risk a lot. The short version:
- Look for a manufacturer or importer name and address, a batch number, an expiry date and an ingredient list. Indian labelling rules require them; products without them are a red flag.
- Buy from the brand or an authorised seller, not from unfamiliar online shops or social-media sellers.
- Be suspicious of dramatic whitening claims. Safe brightening ingredients like niacinamide, alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid and vitamin C work gradually, over weeks. See the guide to pigmentation ingredients.
- Check the batch code with our batch code checker.
The longer checklist, including what to do if you've been sold a fake, is in how to check if a cosmetic is original.
One honest limit: we haven't found a public tool that lets consumers look up a cosmetic's import registration number in real time. CDSCO publishes its alerts and notices on its own website, and the official notice is linked below.
Quick answers
Is Goree Beauty Cream banned in India?
CDSCO describes it as unauthorised and has warned people not to buy or use it. Selling it without the required registration is unlawful.
Can I test a cream for mercury at home?
No. There are no reliable home tests, and tricks shared online aren't validated. Only laboratory testing works. If a product has no maker details or has been flagged by a regulator, stop using it.
Where is the official notice?
A copy of the CDSCO public notice of 8 September 2026 is reproduced by Medical Dialogues, and The Week summarises it.
This is a summary of regulator notices and third-party reporting for consumer awareness. We have not tested any product ourselves. It is not medical advice.