The November 2011 issue of Business Report Thailand included a feature on the rapid growth of whitening cosmetics in Thailand, especially over the last five years. As these products have grown in popularity in the local market, there has been an accompanying rise in the number of counterfeit whitening products available.

In discussing the problem, Titirat Wattanachewanopakorn, an Attorney-at-Law in the Tilleke & Gibbins IP group, said that the size of the counterfeit industry is difficult to estimate, but he confirmed “that counterfeit cosmetics, worth millions of baht, are seized and destroyed by authorities every year, and about 10-20% of them are counterfeit whitening products.” Titirat also described the harmful ingredients that are found in some counterfeit cosmetics, which can jeopardize the health of consumers.