HT: Is Your Face Cream Fake

5/22/2008 11:28:58 PM

Source: HT May 20, 2008

That moisturiser you are slathering on your face to keep ageing at bay may be fake or well past its shelf life. The recent raid on Mumbai warehouses

that netted over Rs. 66 crore worth of fake branded cosmetic products was the tip of the iceberg, brand managers warned. Now they are stepping up the fight against what they are calling "brand terrorism" and have asked consumers to be vigilant and check that their hard earned money is being spent on the real thing.

The raid on a number of Mumbai warehouses found fake items of beauty products of brands like Ponds, Dove, Garnier, Fructis and Nivea. Spokesperson for L'Oreal India, says, "We are delighted by the cooperation and initiative of the police, the FDA and the judiciary, all three are uniting with manufacturers to wipe out this practice.

" Nivea is another brand struggling with "fake fury" and has put in place a comprehensive plan to rid the market of the lookalike products. Kai Bendix, MD, Nivea India Pvt Ltd, says, "All famous international brands are indiscriminately facing criminal free riders, whom I call 'brand terrorists'.

Nivea has established a Global Brand Protection Unit, which now collaborates with the Indian authorities." A spokesperson for Clinique, says, "There are not many fakes of Clinique but what I've seen in shops are expired and discontinued lots.

It is in the interest of the customer that they should look at the expiry date. The product packaging should be undamaged.

" Deodorants too have a huge fake market in India, where similar smelling ones can be bought for half the price. Priya Nair, Category Head Deodorants and Oral Care, Hindustan Unilever Limited says, "Axe deodorants fakes are being sold in the grey markets.

It is very difficult for consumers to distinguish the fake from the genuine. When consumers buy Axe, they should look for mandatory information like inkjet printed MRP at the base of each can, and 'Twist it' below the cap.

" Garnier and L'Oreal have guidelines. Their products should be bought from reputed retailers, there should not be a large reduction in price, you must insist on a VAT invoice and never buy cellophane wrapped single bottles of shampoos.