ISLAMABAD: The government has moved to tighten regulations on cosmetics, with the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology unanimously approving the Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill aimed at curbing the manufacture and import of substandard products.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha at Parliament House, was attended by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi, Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Hiraj and other committee members.
During the meeting, Hiraj raised concerns over the use of potentially hazardous chemicals, including mercury, in some substandard skin-whitening creams. He warned that unsafe cosmetic products could pose serious health risks and called for stricter monitoring of the sector.
The minister also expressed concern over the alleged use of oxytocin injections in buffaloes to increase milk production, particularly in major cities such as Karachi.
Magsi told the committee that the proposed legislation would provide for the establishment of a dedicated authority to oversee the cosmetics industry. The authority would monitor the safety and quality of cosmetic products and work to ensure that locally manufactured cosmetics meet international standards, particularly for export.
Under the proposed law, manufacturers or importers found involved in the production or supply of substandard cosmetics could face imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs10 million.
The proposed legislation is aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight of the cosmetics industry and protecting consumers from potentially unsafe products.
The committee’s approval marks an important stage in the legislative process. The bill will now have to clear the remaining parliamentary stages before it can become law.
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