Cosmetics stores rapped for carcinogenic products: London
The business, which comprise of 11 stores across the Enfield area of London, are collectively facing nearly £30,000 in fines imposed by the UK court.
The fines follow the discovery by trading standards officers of various products which fail to meet minimum safety standards laid out by EU regulation for cosmetics. The officers were searching premises for such items as part of the country’s Operation Trawl initiative.
Banned substances
The four companies are: Kannan Stores Ltd, Shaba Hair and Cosmetics (UK), Afromart Mini Market Ltd and Beautyqueens Cosmetics (Wood Green) Ltd.
The banned substances found in products varied across the stores, and include known carcinogen O-Aminophenol, which was found in hair dye products.
Over a thousand substances are currently banned for use in cosmetics in the EU under the market’s cosmetics regulations, and use of such products can lead to prosecution for retails and brands alike.
Fines imposed
Kannan Stores owners received the largest fine, and were ordered to pay £20,025 in fines, £1,762 in costs for breaching cosmetics regulation.
Shaba Hair and Cosmetics has been given a £1,875 fine and £720 in costs; Afromart Mini Market received £2,945 in fines and £250 in costs; and Beautyqueens Cosmetics has been ordered to pay a £2,450 fine and £600 in costs.
According to the Enfield Gazette & Advertiser, Enfield council’s cabinet member for the environment, Daniel Anderson, welcomed the court’s decisions.
He said: “It beggars belief that trader can be told that a product is potentially hazardous to health, asked to remove it from sale, but then go ahead and attempt to sell it.”
“I am delighted that they have been hammered with big fines by the court.”
