Cosmetic industry urges to buy legitimate products

By Portal & Asociados

The Christmas and New Year's season increased the commercial flow of virtually all consumer goods, including those of the cosmetic and personal care industry. Given the risk of an increase also in the illicit trade of these goods, the Central American and Caribbean Chamber of Cosmetics (Cacecos, for its Spanish acronym) urged Salvadorans to purchase legitimate products in authorized establishments.

“The end and beginning of a year is definitely a high season for companies that produce, distribute and sell cosmetic products. Therefore it is worth warning consumers to be specially cautious in their purchases,” said Cacecos President Melissa Pérez de Patterson. “We also need to remember consumers that cosmetics are not limited to products such as makeup for women usually use for the face, but also toothpastes, shampoos, conditioners, styling creams, razors, perfumes and many others,” she added.

According to data from the Association of Distributors of El Salvador (ADES), every year Central American governments lose more than USD 663 million through illegal trade of all types of merchandise, an equivalent to approximately 4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region.