INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
of a Rajasthan government laboratory showing presence of "harmful" chemicals in the US-based company's baby shampoo, a popular product in
Based on the report of the Drug Testing Laboratory in Jaipur, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to
the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories asking them to stop sale of Johnson Johnson's (JJ) baby shampoo and remove it
from the stocks.The NCPCR said the test report found presence of formaldehyde in JJ's baby shampoo.The company, in a statement, said it has
not received any direction to stop the sale of its shampoo and that it was not accepting the interim results of the laboratory tests which
were based on "unknown and unspecified" methods
India is a major market for JJ globally, and its share in the country's Rs 4,000-crore baby care market is nearly three-fourths."We will
await the results and conclusions of the re-testing process at the Central Drugs Laboratory
We are not aware of any directions from NCPCR
It must be noted that any such directions, under the law, can only be issued under certain prescribed conditions," the company said.JJ said
have confirmed to the Indian authorities that we do not add Formaldehyde as an ingredient in our shampoo nor does Johnson's baby shampoo
contain any ingredient that can release formaldehyde over time
Our products are safe to use and conform to all applicable standard under the DC (Drugs and Cosmetics) Act and DC rules," it said."We
unequivocally maintain that our products are safe, and our assurance process is amongst the most rigorous in the world, meeting or exceeding
the safety standards in every country where our products are sold," the company added.Officials said NCPCR has powers to recommend action,
but it was for the state governments and union territories to take a call on implementation of the recommendation by the apex child rights
body.The NCPCR had sought sample test reports of JJ's baby shampoo and talcum powder from authorities of five states -- Andhra Pradesh
(south), Jharkhand (east), Rajasthan (west), Madhya Pradesh (central) and Assam (North East) -- after reports of presence of asbestos and
carcinogenic substance in them emerged.The order by he NCPCR around a week back was issued after test reports of the baby shampoo came from
However, it is yet to receive the test reports from the other four states.The NCPCR has asked the Drug Control Officer of Rajasthan to send
the test report of the talcum powder at the earliest, officials at the child rights body said.In December last year, the country's drug
regulator ordered laboratory testing of JJ's baby powder following international media reports it may contain cancer-causing asbestos
Months later, test reports showed that the talcum powder did not contain asbestos.Get the latest election news, live updates and election
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