In brief
On 6 October 2022, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issued an update on products found and reported by overseas regulators to contain potent ingredients that are prohibited and briefly explained the possible side effects of the potent ingredients. The update aims to increase awareness among the local population on the safety issues of such products overseas.
Key takeaways
To better protect local consumers from harmful products that can be found overseas and online, the HSA not only conducts local surveillance, but monitors overseas enforcement actions, and updates consumers on products that may pose a threat to public health.
Sellers and suppliers of health products should note that anyone who supplies health products in Singapore that are adulterated, or counterfeit may face a fine of up to SGD 100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three years.
In more detail
The HSA published a consolidated list of products that were found and reported by health regulators overseas (including regulators in Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, Canada and the United States) to contain potent ingredients.
Products that were found to include potent ingredients range from body cream to lipsticks to pills. The full list can be found here.
The HSA also provided a brief explanation of the possible side effects of the potent ingredients found in the health products to increase awareness among the public and advised consumers to exercise caution when purchasing health products online, encouraging them to purchase from websites with an established retail presence in Singapore; and to be wary of products that produce unexpectedly quick results.
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