Maharashtra FDA Seizes Spurious Cetaphil Products in Pune

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized 12 bottles of counterfeit Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser from a retailer in Pune's Shivajinagar. The products, which claimed a manufacturing date of December 2025 and an expiry of December 2028, were found to be spurious cosmetics following a surprise inspection by drug inspector Shrikant V Patil. The authorities have subsequently registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

While laboratory analysis indicated the product contents met quality specifications, the physical examination revealed significant discrepancies in packaging, labels, and security features compared to authentic goods. Both the marketer, Galderma India Pvt Ltd, and the manufacturer, Encube Ethicals Pvt Ltd, confirmed the seized batch was not produced through their authorized channels. This distinction between the chemical safety and the branding integrity is central to the classification of the goods as "spurious".

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasized that counterfeit skincare products pose a serious health risk to consumers beyond simple economic fraud. The department is conducting a wider investigation to identify the distribution network responsible for circulating these items. Legal action remains ongoing against all parties involved in the sale and distribution of these fraudulent items.