The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has started to regulate cosmetics laced with heavy metals after the Drug Technical advisory Board (DTAB), country’s apex body on drugs, proposed to restrict the presence of mercury in cosmetics. The use of mercury was earlier prohibited in cosmetics. In the amendments proposed in the Drug and Cosmetics rules, 1945, level of mercury for cosmetics intended to be used for eyes should not exceed more than 65 parts per million (PPM). It has also been suggested that presence of traces of unintentional mercury should not exceed 1 part per million (PPM) in the finished cosmetics. Earlier, according to rule 135 A, import of cosmetics containing mercury compounds was prohibited too. It was declared that no cosmetic shall be imported which contains mercury compounds. A sub-committee was earlier constituted to simplify the provisions and suggest suitable changes relating to registration of cosmetics imported into the country under the rules without compromising the quality and safety of the cosmetics imported in the country. The panel had recommended these amendments, which were agreed by the DTAB this month. Significantly, to further ease the import of cosmetics, the DTAB also proposed for an online registration import system to be initiated. It recommended for a provision that “cosmetics imported without prior registration shall be subject to test at the time of the import. A system of online regitration of such import may be started,” it said. To ensure that products have not been tested on animals, the experts had also recommended getting an undertaking from the manufacturer either legal or actual/brand owner of the product for one-time declaration clarifying that the applied products have not been tested in animals post Novermber 2014 along with import registration dossiers. “The achknowledgement copy for the submission of this undertaking can be produced at port offices in future for clearing their future consignments,” it added. The committee had recommended for keeping compulsory registration in abeyance till the new rules were notified. According to the existing rules no cosmetics can be imported into India unless the product is registered uunder the rules by the licensing authority appointed by the central government.