Johnson & Johnson’s licence for cosmetics cancelled

15 batches of baby powder produced in 2007 were found to be sterilised by ethylene oxide, a known carcinogenic

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cancelled Johnson & Johnson India's licence to produce cosmetic products at their Mulund plant. FDA's order will come into effect from June 24. According to FDA officials, the order was issued in a case dating back to 2007 when they found that 15 batches of Johnson & Johnson baby powder were sterilised by ethylene oxide, a known carcinogenic and irritant. 
"Whileethyleneoxidecanbeusedforsterilisation, the company did not bother to carry out atest after the process to check the amount of residue in the product," said FDA joint commissioner KB Shende, adding that the company can appeal to the state government before the order comes into effect. 
"The products are used for new born babies. It is must for the company to follow all measures," said Shende adding that the traces of ethylene oxide, if any, should have been measured. The 15 batches in question consisted of 160,000 containers. 
When Mumbai Mirror contacted Johnson & Johnson, the company spokesperson confirmedtheFDAaction."Nothingismoreimportant to us than the safety of our products and
health of the consumers. We continue to manufacturenon-cosmeticproductsatthesamesite," the spokesperson said, adding that the matter in question related to a limited number of batches producedin2007,shelflifeofwhichendedinJuly 2010. 
    "The FDA raised concern about following ethylene oxide treatment, which was not includedaspartofthemanufacturingprocesssubmitted to the FDA. This method is widely used for medical devices around the world. This was followed as an exception and all internal safety protocols were followed to ensure that safety of the consumer was not compromised. In addition, we have ascertained that there were no complaints or unexpected/undesirable effect reported concerning any of the batches in question,"hesaidaddingthatthecompanyisnowin the process of filing an appeal with the state government. 
WHAT IS ETHYLENE OXIDE? 
Ethyleneoxideisaknowncarcinogen.Theorganic compound is known to be flammable, irritating, anaesthetic and carcinogenic at room temperature. 
    The USFDA has recommended that companies should measure the residue of ethylene oxide after sterilisation of products and before releasing the products in the market.

While ethylene oxide can be used for sterilisation, the company did not bother to carry out a test after the process to check the amount of residue