Health department officials along with the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) members on Friday collected nine samples of shampoo and talcum powder of Johnson and Johnson products after receiving a circular from National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The Health and Family Welfare department has written to the Drug and Cosmetic Director for conducting the inspection in the Capital City, following the guidelines as mentioned in the letter of NCPCR.
“After receiving the instructions from the department, we have collected nine samples from Namkom and other places. We have followed the instructions as mentioned in the letter. All the samples have been sent to the drugs and cosmetics laboratory based outstation and soon the report will be tabled. However, there is no set timeframe for getting the report, as it depends on the laboratory, as how long it will take to test the samples and send the details,” said, Director Drugs and Cosmetics, Ritu Sahay.
In May 2016, NCPCR has sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand including those of Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to collect the samples of Johnson products and submit a detailed report to NCPCR, after it was found that Johnson and Johnson products contains a cancer causing substance, ‘Formaldehyde’, that is harmful for consumers. The report was published in several journals recently.
“We have asked the respective Chief Secretaries of all the five states to collect the product samples, after reading the reports of the chemical substance found in the renowned brand is dangerous for the kids. However, even after three months, none of the five states have compiled the reports of the finding till day,” said, Member of NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo.
According to reports, the pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson has been ordered to pay $ 72 million to the family of a woman who claimed her ovarian cancer was caused by talcum powder of this leading women and kids brand. The company is currently facing 1,200 lawsuits in the US from customers who claim they were not warned about the health risks involved, while using the products of the company.