Press Releases
Poor labelling costs cosmetics wholesaler £12,000 (PR 938)
A cosmetics wholesaler has been ordered to pay £12,000 plus court costs after being successfully prosecuted by Ealing Council.
Dooa Wholesalers Ltd, at 55-61 North Acton Road, pleaded guilty
to failing to ensure four of the products on its shelves featured
legally required consumer information including ingredient lists,
batch codes and manufacturer details.
The company’s director, Mr Bakhsish Singh Dooa, was present
in court and heard that his company was fined £3,000 for each of
the four product regulation breaches - a total of £12,000 - and was
ordered to pay £327.75 in court costs. The case was heard in Acton
Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday 22 February).
Councillor Will Brooks, cabinet member for environment and transport, who has responsibility for trading standards, said: “Our trading standards officers visited Dooa Wholesalers on a number of occasions and sent numerous warning letters containing labelling advice.
“Product labelling is essential for consumers. Without it, customers cannot make informed choices or avoid products that may produce an allergic reaction.
“We will take every step necessary to protect consumers, and hope this case warns other traders to ensure they have rigorous labelling and control procedures.”
Making Ealing’s communities safer is one of the council’s three priorities. The other two priorities are cleaner streets and providing value for money services.
On 24 July 2006, Ealing Council’s trading standards officers visited Dooa Wholesalers and seized 39 products that were inadequately labelled.
The prosecution related to four body lotion and hair conditioning products: Clere glycerine crème, Clere cocoa butter, Lusters pink hair lotion and Karibu body milk.
Under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004 and Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, all cosmetics must be labelled with a list of ingredients, a batch code and the European Community manufacturer’s name and address.
Notes for Editors:
· Mr Dooa was previously sent warning letters and
labelling advice on 18 August 2004 and 15 February 2006.
· The company cooperated with the council’s
investigation and is now in the process of improving its stock
control procedures. It has reorganised its warehouse, installed a
new computer system and has appointed additional staff to take
responsibility for stock control.
· Products must be marked with the name and address of
the European Community manufacturer so that consumers and
enforcement agencies can trace the origin of the product.
· Batch numbers are important because if a problem or
fault is detected, the problem batch can be more easily identified
and recalled.