Ranchi: Drugs control department mulls strict curbs for salons

RANCHI: In a first, the state drugs control department is mulling strict curbs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act on beauty salons and parlours after a random survey by its officers in select districts found mass irregularities in their operations.
Department officials said the move will lead to healthy business practices in the beauty industry and ensure the safety of customers. Drugs control comes under the state health department.
Official sources said drug inspectors discovered several irregularities at many salons and high-end parlours during a random survey conducted in a few districts two months back.
“Some of the common irregularities included the use of expired cosmetics products by changing their labels, lack of proper data keeping of the businesses and customers served, and unchecked pricing among others. We submitted our findings to the department,” a drug inspector said.
Sumant Kumar Tiwari, deputy director of the department, has recently sent a proposal to the state drugs controller, Ritu Sahay, recommending that all parlours and beauty salons be brought under the ambit of the Cosmetics and Drugs Act, 1945 which will enable routine and surprise inspections.
“Currently, none of the beauty salons or parlours are mandated to register with the drugs control department even though their operations come under the parameters of the Cosmetics and Drugs Act. Like all medical entities have to register under the Clinical Establishment Act, similarly parlours, too, should be made to undergo the mandatory registration,” the inspector added.
Tiwari told TOI, “I have sent a proposal based on the survey/inspection of beauty parlours and salons in Ranchi and Lohardaga. One of the biggest lapses we found was that many were using cosmetic items which had expired during the lockdown after changing their labels.”
Rakesh Singh, the owner of ‘Smart Looks’ at Morhabadi, said, “If the government wants to introduce the rules, we welcome it. But the move should not turn into ‘inspector raaj’ to extort or harass parlour operators.”