Law case could give way to mandatory sealing of personal care products in India

Dutta filed the law case as a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Bombay High Court last month, and if the case makes any waves with the judges, it could spell big changes for both big and small players manufacturing personal care products in the country.

According to details of the case, which were revealed in the Economic Times of India, the lawyer has named the four biggest companies in the category – Hindustan Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson and Colgate Palmolive.

Focus on big players to draw attention to the problem​

The move is seen as a bid to target the biggest players in an effort to make them accountable for contamination, which occurs from leaking personal care packaging that has not been adequately sealed.

Dutta’s primary concern is that because of a lack secure sealing, contamination of products can lead to adulterated formulations that can lead to allergic reactions such as skin reactions or even diseases.

The PIL details that this contamination frequently occurs during transit, while in an interview with the newspaper Dutta also detailed that the fact that consumers often does not get a full product due to the resulting leakage. 

State regulation is the first goal​

As well as the four personal care companies, the PIL also names Maharashtra’s Public Health Department, Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, in an effort to channel the court’s intervention to frame proper regulations governing this area.

The court case targets the state of Maharashtra, but if passed such a ruling is likely to impact the manufacturing of personal care manufacturing throughout the country.

Because the PIL has been filed as a sub judice, meaning the case is still under trial, no one involved in the court case, or any of the companies mentioned are able to make any comment about the case.