In brief
On 9 June 2022, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued an advisory against the purchase and use of a topical cream for diaper rash following reports of adverse effects in an infant. The product has since been found to contain a potent steroid and a synthetic medicinal ingredient.
Key takeaways
- Dealers must comply with the HSA’s safety and quality standards when importing, manufacturing, or selling health products. Anyone found to have supplied products that are adulterated with potent medicinal ingredients may be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined up to SGD 10,000 upon conviction.
- The HSA also has strict frameworks in place to regulate the content of health product advertisements. In particular, advertisements must truthfully state the health product’s nature, quality and properties. Such advertisements cannot mislead the reader in any way or give rise to unrealistic expectations regarding the product’s safety, quality or efficacy.
Background
On 9 June 2022, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued an advisory against the purchase and use of a topical cream for diaper rash following reports of adverse effects in an infant. The product was since found to contain a potent steroid and a synthetic medicinal ingredient.
Marketed on various social media platforms, product entries of the cream were accompanied by multiple customer reviews on its efficacy in relieving a variety of skin conditions. The cream also contained multiple ingredient claims viz. that it contained “all natural herb extracts” and “no steroids”. It was also advertised as being “suitable for all skin types”.
The HSA has since worked with the platform administrators to remove the affected products. Sellers have likewise been directed to immediately stop the sale of the affected products.
Key considerations
When determining whether health product advertisements are compliant with existing regulations, dealers should ask themselves the following:
- Does the content of your advertisement contain unclear language that might make it difficult for consumers to understand or provide them with a false impression of the health product? Is that same content capable of causing fear and alarm?
- Does your advertisement feature recommendations by a healthcare professional or someone with status capable of influencing the consumption of the product?
- Can the claims you have made on the health product’s effects be backed up by facts or objective evidence? Have these facts/evidence been taken from credible sources?
- Does your marketing campaign feature (1) bulk offers as part of sales promotion; (2) the distribution of products as samples; or (3) prize-giving?
Sellers should also ensure that all ingredients found in products are safe and in line with applicable healthcare regulations.
