India’s central drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has issued a clarification stating that cosmetic products supplied in injectable form are not permitted under the law. In a public notice dated May 18, the regulator says products provided as “injectable preparations” do not fall within the legal definition of cosmetics. It adds that no cosmetic is allowed to be used as an injection by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics.
The clarification comes as injectable aesthetic procedures have gained popularity and are sometimes promoted in clinics and wellness centres as “cosmetic” treatments. CDSCO’s advisory is intended to prevent misuse of cosmetic products for treatment or injection purposes and to support consumer safety amid the growth of non-surgical aesthetic procedures in urban areas.
The regulator also links the move to curbing misleading advertising and unauthorised cosmetic practices, including claims made through social media and by individuals or clinics that use cosmetic products beyond what is permitted under the definition of cosmetics.