Lažna kozmetika

Do you want to damage the way you look?

Using fake cosmetics, including make up and perfume, can result in serious injury

What are fake cosmetics?

You may have heard of fake luxury goods, such as watches, sunglasses, bags and clothes, but did you know that cosmetics, including deodorant, shampoo and mascara, are also copied illegally?

Unlike the manufacturers of genuine cosmetics, the makers of fake cosmetics usually do not comply with safety regulations. Therefore, fake cosmetics may be a threat to your health and safety.

Why you should avoid buying fake cosmetics?

You may be after a bargain when shopping for cosmetics, including lip stick, foundation and nail varnish, but the price that you end up paying for a fake version – both physically and financially – may be much higher than the price of an original.
The manufacturers of fake cosmetics usually do not comply with the legal safety standards and may use cheap chemicals that are potentially dangerous to your health and safety in order to maximise their profits.

How can you spot fake cosmetics?

You can identify fake cosmetics by using your common sense and applying four indicators:

Place

If the cosmetics are sold from an outlet such as a street vendor, open marketplace, online marketplace or social media site there is an increased chance the product is fake. In order to make sure you buy original products, only buy from reputable stockiest or shops.

Product quality

The quality of fake cosmetics is often low compared to an original and may contain dangerous chemicals that can damage your health.

Price

If the price of the cosmetics is below the normal market price, there is an increased chance the product is fake. In other words, if the bargain seems
too good to be true, it probably is.

If you do not know the price of the cosmetics that you wish to buy, you can check the recommended retail price online at the genuine manufacturer’s website before you make your purchase.

Packaging

In order to keep costs down, the makers of fake cosmetics often cut corners when it comes to packaging. They try to imitate the packaging of the original  product they are copying but the quality is often very poor. The genuine product (or where not possible the packaging or documentation accompanying the cosmetics) should be clearly marked in Serbian with the:

• Name and address of the manufacturer, importer,
  distributor or an authorized representative in Serbia;
• Ingredients;
• Precautions to be observed in use; and
• Batch number of manufacture.

Fake cosmetics are frequently produced by non-Serbian speakers and, therefore, spelling mistakes are very common. Always look closely for spelling mistakes on the packaging, including the small print.

What can yo do if you have purchased cosmetics and you suspect they are fake?

You may have bought cosmetics on the understanding they are genuine. However, if you later believe the product is fake you should contact the original manufacturer and/or the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade.
Your information will help protect yourself and others from fakes.

Who can I contact if I need help?

If you have any questions about fake products please contact:

Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade
Sector of Market Inspection
E-mail: stop.falsifikati@must.gov.rs
Website: www.must.gov.rs

If you have any questions about non-compliant or unsafe cosmetics, please contact:

Ministry of Health
Sector for inspection affairs
Website: www.zdravlje.gov.rs

The respective Serbian authorities exchange information concerning dangerous products found on the market, including unsafe cosmetics that could be fake. These alerts are placed on the rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products – “NEPRO”. They include information about the type of products found, the risks posed and the measures taken at national level to prevent or restrict their marketing.

Weekly reports of the alerts are available at www.nepro.gov.rs