India Introduces Stricter Cosmeceutical Rules to Tackle Counterfeit Products

A huge craze among consumers for cosmeceuticals, by going into marketing and brand appeal, is setting a dangerous precedent. Above all, fake cosmetic products have flooded the Indian market, which are easily available online and across street markets. Keeping this in mind and to stop unscrupulous ads, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has officially published the Cosmetics (Amendment) Rules, 2025, on July 29, which introduce a series of changes to the existing Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Experts weigh in on how this Act can be a gamechanger in the cosmeceutical sector, provided strict norms are followed.

- Sanjiv Das

Stacks of cosmetics at medical and departmental stores remind us of the easy availability of the products. Not realising what best suits the skin, hair etc, without a proper doctor's prescription, consumers are on a buying frenzy, inclined to the marketing and brand appeal rather than thoroughly analysing product details such as ingredients or proper skin type alignment etc. The cosmeceutical industry is an ever-growing sector backed by consumer awareness, disposable income, a preferential shift towards various products. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, a trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, the cosmeceuticals market generated an estimated revenue of $1.645 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach around $2.27 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of approximately 5.4 per cent from 2025 to 2030. Players in the field are in a rat race to gain consumer preference. Backed by e-commerce and social media platforms, there is no backing out for this growing sector. From bigger pharma giants to smaller players, everyone wants to join the bandwagon. And these are easily available across e-commerce platforms. With products also available on street markets, sometimes having no expiry dates mentioned or a fake one, without proper labelling, is a matter of worry that can lead to serious side effects.

Confiscation of fake cosmetics