Estée Lauder suing Target in fake cosmetics case

Estée Lauder is suing Target Australia for allegedly selling counterfeit M.A.C Cosmetics at its stores.

Target pulled the products from its shelves after being contacted by M.A.C but the US-based cosmetics company still initiated legal action. M.A.C took the steps after investigating products sold by Target Australia.

"M•A•C Cosmetics has conducted extensive testing in our US laboratories and found that M•A•C marked products that were, until recently, being sold at Target Australia are counterfeit," M.A.C wrote in a statement posted on its website.

The potential for counterfeits to enter the legitimate supply chain stems from the use of a limited number of authorised distributors by M.A.C. Target lacks an official distribution deal with M.A.C so sources its products from a legitimate overseas wholesaler.

In a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald Target wrote: “Before going on sale in our stores and online, the product was tested by our supplier, who provided assurance it was genuine." The supplier is now running further tests as part of an investigation by Target.