Solihull hair and beauty supplier fined for selling 'dangerous' skin-lightening products
Manzar Mahmood was fined for selling illegal skin products.
Last updated 16th Jan 2024
A hair and beauty supplier based in Solihull has been fined over £10,000 after admitting selling products that contained illegal substances.
Manzar Mahmood, 39, of Highcroft Avenue, Birmingham was prosecuted for selling skin-lightening products that contained banned and harmful ingredients. Mahmood was fined £5,000, while his business, AZ Hair Design on Station Road, Solihull, was fined a further £5,000. He also had to pay £2,567 in costs.
The products that were sold were skin-lightening creams, some of which contained hydroquinone - an ingredient that is banned in retail products across Europe due to its potential to cause cancer.
Solihull Council took action against the business owner after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, Cllr Wazma Qais, said: “Some skin lightening products can cause cancer, which is why they are banned. Businesses that ignore the law and sell these dangerous and illegal products face prosecution, fines and even imprisonment.
“I would like to thank the Council’s Trading Standards team for their continued work to ensure businesses operating in Solihull comply with their legal obligations, and for following up this complaint successfully. The resident’s complaint and the team’s actions have ensured that these particular harmful products will not be sold.
“If you have any trading standards concerns, please report them to Solihull Council on 0121 704 8001."