14,200 non-notified cosmetic products worth RM8.5 million seized

A total of 14,200 non-notified cosmetic products worth RM8.5 million were seized between 2015 and February 2017, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam.

"All cosmetic products must be notified before they can be manufactured, imported, supplied or sold in Malaysian markets," he told a press conference at his office here today.

During the same period, he said 153,700 cosmetic products were notified to the ministry, but between 2013 and April this year, 47 products had had their notification numbers cancelled after being found adulterated with prohibited substances such as hydroquinone, tretinoin and mercury.

The ministry has been active in conducting inspections on premises selling cosmetic products, be it on the shelves or online, he said.

So far, 20 cases had been taken to courts, while 300 cases involving online sellers had been handed over to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission for further action.

Meanwhile, Dr Subramaniam said the Pharmaceutical Enforcement Division had seized various types of unregistered injectable pharmaceutical products worth RM779,663 during the Ops Cosmetics yesterday.

The operation was done on 66 premises comprising beauty saloon, spa, esthetic clinic, health clinic, supplier/wholesaler and residences nationwide.

Among the injectable pharmaceutical products seized were Botox, Vitamin C, glutathione, placenta and non-notified cosmetics.

Dr Subramaniam also warned beauty centres not to offer Botox injections as the product is not under their control, and that errant premises would even be ordered close.

"We are strict in this matter because we don't want the public to fall victims to extreme advertisements and testimonies which claim that certain products can give the desired effect quickly or in a short period of time," he added. -- Bernama