FDA turns heat on Reckitt over Harpic

More and more fast moving consumer goods are coming under the scanner of Maharashtra Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The state food & drug regulator has hauled up Reckitt Benckiser for its Harpic toilet cleaner brand for not possessing a drug licence.

It has served a notice to the household products major as its Harpic disinfectant brand contains certain chemicals bringing it under the definition of drugs.

A senior FDA official confirming this told Business Standard: "We conducted tests in our laboratories on the Harpic brand that is sold as a disinfectant and powerful toilet cleaner. Our results showed that the product contains chemicals that would bring it under the definition of drugs. Since the company does not possess a drug license we have issued notice to them." Reckitt Benckiser officials were unavailable for comment.

The Maharashtra FDA has also sought clarifications from the Delhi based Ozone Ayurvedics. FDA officials said, "Similar tests had been done to assess the advertorial claims by Ozone Ayurvedics that manufactures the 'No Mark' range of personal care products."

According to them, The advertisements have made misleading claims about the No Marks cream being an ayurvedic soap that has anti-bacterial, blood circulation enhancing abilities.

P S Sandhu, vice president -marketing of Ozone Ayurvedics said, "The FDA officials visited our clearing & forwarding agents in Mumbai asking for some documents relating to drug and manufacturing licenses among other thing. We have been give two days time to submit these papers."

According to Sandhu, it is just a routine visit by the FDA officials. The entire action is part of the ongoing study of the general cosmetics industry that is found to be routinely making tall claims regarding their products that amounts to false representation to consumers.

Following consumer complaints, the Maharashtra Food & Drug Administration has been issuing notices to a few consumer goods companies including Johnson & Johnson, Emami, Wipro Consumer Care among others.