ANSA McAL Trading Limited has said that millions are being lost, while the health of Guyanese is at risk due to the increasing presence of counterfeit products in the Guyana market.
ANSA McAL Managing Director Beverley Harper disclosed that there has been a 15% drop in sales for Proctor and Gamble products, primarily Head and Shoulders, Pantene and Olay due to the increasing circulation of the counterfeit goods. ANSA McAL is the authorised distributor in Guyana for Proctor and Gamble, Heineken and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Novartis, Alcon and Grace Kennedy products under various bands.
Based on the tests and observations conducted, it was discovered that small but important details were missing, although the original and counterfeit products appear identical. The batch production code is always printed on the back of each bottle, but this important feature is missing from the bogus Head and Shoulders product. Additionally, a test was conducted to determine whether Pyrithione zinc (ZPT) was present. Pyrithione zinc is an important ingredient in Head and Shoulders required to fight off dandruff.
“The colour, texture and smell were verified and proved to be different from the standard by Proctor and Gamble. The test turned out negative, no presence of ZPT in the formula. The original formula turned black due to the presence of ZPT and the same remains the same colour,” Proctor and Gamble explained in a letter which was issued to the press by Harper.
It was also disclosed that the company has experienced a 25% shortfall in the sale of Heineken due to the import and sale of expired Heineken. According to Harper, retailers are now removing the expiry date and selling it to the man in the street. “Unscrupulous people who have no interest in the consumer but have interest in the sale are doing this,” she lamented.
ANSA McAL said products often remain with importers longer than recommended and after becoming aged and expired, these products with questionable ingredients are sold to unsuspecting customers at a heavily discounted price.