by Burak Akinci
ANKARA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- While consumers are struggling with high inflation, Türkiye's rapidly expanding cosmetics industry is plagued by counterfeit and inferior goods, calling for more regulation efforts and public awareness.
Last week, Türkiye Medicines and Medical Devices Agency under the Ministry of Health reported that during the July-September period, its routing inspections found 110 out of 162 cosmetic products non-compliant with regulations.
Industry professionals say that high demand for well-known, expensive brands and high inflation hovering over the country are making the market and consumers vulnerable to the allure of low-priced knockoff products.
According to the Ministry of Trade, the Turkish cosmetics industry has manifested as a growing market with a value of around 2.7 billion U.S. dollars as of 2023. The growing young population, increasing interest in beauty and personal care products, and rising consumer demand for beauty products all contribute to the market's 10-percent annual expansion rate.
"Unfortunately, there are many fake and poor-quality products," Hulya Bayar, a licensed cosmetician who works in a beauty salon in Ankara, told Xinhua, noting that the market of counterfeit cosmetics products is becoming widespread in direct proportion to the increase in consumption.
"There are products sold in the market that are not patented and have not passed any tests. Most of them have neither a barcode nor a record anywhere," said Bayar.
Belgum Sile, vice president of the Cosmetics Manufacturers and Researchers Association, said that nearly 30 percent of cosmetics products in Türkiye are counterfeit, and 34 percent are produced in unregulated, substandard facilities.
As government agencies continue their efforts to regulate the industry, industry professionals called for stepping up scrutiny of online promotion and sales and highlighted purchasing cosmetic products from licensed sources.
Bulent Erinc, a physician from Ankara, called on consumers to purchase personal care and beauty products in licensed stores or pharmacies, not online. "There are products on the Internet that may pose serious health issues for those who use them," Erinc warned.
Bayar said licensed professionals like herself seek to raise awareness among consumers, advising them not to choose poor-quality products just because they are cheaper.
As for Sile, his association has been working with regulatory authorities to ensure regular inspections and strict enforcement of standards.
In an interview with the semi-official Anadolu news agency last June, Sile stressed the importance of "product tracking systems to prevent the sale of fake products, alongside awareness campaigns and industry-wide education initiatives."
"Public health is very important; no one has the right to sell low-grade or counterfeit products to consumers," Erinc noted.
