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Fake cosmetics invade Dar market
2008-03-03 09:08:38
By Hannah Mwandoloma
Cosmetics users are in danger of suffering from skin cancer, thinning of skin and neurotoxic effect (a disease that damages, destroys, or impairs the functioning of nerve tissue) as dealers re-pack home-made concoctions in used containers and sell them to unsuspecting customers.
A survey by this paper conducted in some hair saloons in Dar es Salaam has revealed that cosmetics dealers do re-pack their concoctions into used containers to deceive consumers that the products are genuine.
Our investigations have revealed that unscrupulous dealers have adopted the technique, taking advantage of genuine and original labels and identification marks of the containers.
The used cosmetics`` containers have become hot-cakes.
Currently, used cosmetics`` containers are sold at around 100/- in many parts of Dar es Salaam.
However, dealers are ready to offer higher prices for containers that have genuine labels and other original identification marks.
Owners and operators of hair saloons are still in the dark on how the illegal business is conducted—how the dealers mix up ingredients and re-pack the concoctions into used containers.
The majority of those interviewed told The Guardian that dealers were selling the bogus products at lower price compared to genuine goods.
``We are told that they are manufacturing the products in their backyards. Nobody knows how they mix-up the concoction. The government should do something to rescue lives of consumers,`` said Asha Athuman, a worker in one of the saloons in Dar es Salaam.
Sources said the ingredients of fake cosmetics affected human skin, especially when the user was allergic.
Acting Assistant Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Deo Mutasiwa, said counterfeit cosmetics had so far affected many consumers.
``It is a big challenge to the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) to trace these dealers and take legal action against the culprits,`` he said.
The Minister for Industries, Trade and Marketing, Dr. Mary Nagu, said in an exclusive interview that she had already ordered the relevant institutions to work on the problem, while admitting the existence of fake cosmetics in the market.
``I have talked to the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. I have no doubt they will work on it as soon as possible. The government will act fast to safeguard public health,`` said Dr. Nagu.
She underscored the need for public awareness on fake cosmetics and alarms to scare the illegal dealers.
The TFDA Director of Inspection, Olympia Kowero, said it was difficult to identify fake make-ups packed into used containers.
``We are facing a serious challenge in this area. Those who use fake items don`t come to us so often. If they are cooperative, our task to identify the culprits will become easier,`` said Kowero.
He urged buyers of fake cosmetics to send samples to the TFDA for testing, so that action would be taken.
``Most consumers who come to us do not have receipts. Tracing is difficult in the absence of documents,`` he said.
TFDA regulates importation, manufacture, labeling, marking or identification, storage, promotion, selling and distribution of food and drug products.
Lack of staff, according to Kowero, has also contributed to failure in the monitoring of fake cosmetics.
The authority controls cosmetic products through pre-market evaluation.
The company, which places the product in the local market, submits product details and relevant certificates for review and notification/registration by TFDA before the product can be manufactured, imported or sold inside the country.
An employee with a cosmetics firm was recently arrested by police in Tanga allegedly for possessing 260 home-made cosmetic items.
Counterfeit cosmetics are among hundreds of other products which are imitated in Dar es Salaam.
People interviewed by The Guardian have mentioned cartilages, nail polish and powder among the vulnerable items.
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