KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 on Shree Kesh oil producing company, Saptarishi Oil & Cosmetics Industry.
KMC’s Monitoring Inspector Dr Awadhesh Jha said that the claimed quality of the oil could not be confirmed in the technical analysis report prepared on the basis of the details provided by the oil-producing company.
After receiving complaints about the quality of the oil, the KMC demanded the details from its producer on June 21. Jha said that the report was prepared based on the information received while the fine was imposed on the basis of the same report.
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In the demanded description, the method of technical mixing of raw materials used in the oil (formulation, recipe method) was not provided in the documents. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) records were not found in the industry. The reports mentioned that this does not meet with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The IOC certificate obtained in the name of the industry is used in the produced oil.
The laboratory test report of all the raw materials (oil and herbs) used in the oil has been submitted as incomplete. All products are assigned the same batch number. Some of the raw materials (oil) used in the products of that batch have been found to have expired.
No documentation has been received from the industry confirming by the government or other agency the ingredients and quantities mentioned on the oil’s label. The report pointed out the industry uses misleading terms in its advertising and commercial activities as there are no clinical trials, laboratory analysis, or published in journals to confirm the benefits mentioned on the label (such as no hair loss, new hair growth, and stopping dandruff).
In the laboratory reports provided by the industry, it is seen that the number of microorganisms (microbiological load, total plate count) is gradually increasing. The manufacturer's self-proclaimed hair growth chemical "monoxide" is not included in the industry-provided test report. The industry has not provided any analysis report confirming that the mixture of raw materials and herbs will not produce harmful substances during the period of use (3 years), and technical and scientific confirmation that the mixture of raw materials will not negatively affect human health.
No documentation was received to confirm what, how and on what basis the use period (3 years) is mentioned on the oil label. The industry did not provide any quality methods or analysis reports to verify the quantity of herbs used in the oil, nor any documents regarding the potential impact of these herbs on human health.
The KMC has decided to forward the matter to the Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine, the Department of Drug Administration, and the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection, under the Ministry of Health and Population.
