Shop to be fined for selling cosmetics sans permit

Muscat: The Consumer Protection Authority cracked down on a shop selling cosmetics that required prescriptions as over-the-counter products.

"During an inspection, Al Dhahirah Governorate's Consumer Protection Department, in cooperation with the Pharmaceutical Control Department of the General Directorate of Health Services, seized 152 cosmetic products," the authority said in a statement.

The products were mostly skin-whitening creams, such as Melanofree whitening cream, Melano gel, Sebanoin, Milano cream with milk, Skinbo gel, Skinbo cream, and Trito Sport cream. These contain compounds such as Hayborocortione acertate Eusolex, Hydroquinone, Tretinoin, Clobetsol propionate, Erythromycin Isotretinoin, and legally be purchased only with a prescription from a specialised doctor.

The products were seized by judicial control officers and the story was issued a notice for trading in cosmetics without approval from the Ministry of Health. 

This amounts to a violation of Resolution No. (98/2020), which regulates the circulation of cosmetic products that contain (Hydroquinone). 

Violators are fined between OMR50 and OMR1,000, though repeat offenders may be fined up to OMR2,000.