KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, May 9: Following instructions from the state drug control office in Ranchi, a team of the district drug inspectors on Monday started carrying out random inspections of salons across the steel city.
The salons and beauty parlours are now on the drug control office radar following an intelligence input that management of many of them are using expired cosmetics that were piled up in the stores due to prolonged lockdown during the spell of the Covid-19 pandemic.
East Singhbhum district drug inspector, Abrar Alam confirmed the random inspection that they have begun in Jamshedpur keeping public health in view.
“We have started carrying out random inspections not only at the salons and beauty parlours but also at the cosmetic shops. Our purpose behind the initiative is to check whether cosmetics of expired date or duplicate products are being used or sold, ” said Alam.
The drug inspector informed that such inspection is being carried on following the instructions made by the Director of Jharkhand Drug Control Office Ritu Sahay. He pointed out that the deputy director of the state drug control office Sumant Tiwari is looking after the inspection as the matter assumes significance for public health.
Deputy director Sumant Tiwari said the department was already contemplating carrying out such inspection as it had felt there was enough scope of expired cosmetics, especially in the salons post-Covid. He stated that they had already got some hearsay information regarding this.
“But the unearthing of a spurious Ayurvedic hair oil and shampoo manufacturing racket in Garhwa on Saturday prompted the department to take such initiative. After the breakthrough, additional chief secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Arun Kumar Singh is himself monitoring the drive, ” said Tiwari.
He said the department is carrying out the drive across the state and has also called upon the people to share information with the local officials concerned if any unusual thing comes to their notice.
There are over 500 salons in the steel city and many cosmetics shops operate here. Many medical stores also keep stock of cosmetic items.
