Singapore: Health Sciences Authority removes over 1,200 online listings of illegal health products

30 Jun 2025    2 minute read
Sectors Healthcare & Life Sciences

In brief

On 26 June 2025, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that it had removed 1,288 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms and issued warnings to 732 sellers.

The removals, held from December 2024 to May 2025, were part of Operation Pangea — a global internet-based enforcement action coordinated by INTERPOL to combat pharmaceutical crime that saw participation from 90 countries.

Contents

In depth

From 16 December 2024 to 16 May 2025, the HSA removed 1,288 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms during Operation Pangea XVII.

The top three categories of illegal listings were as follows:

  1. Medicines for skin and hair conditions
  2. Antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral creams/tablets/capsules
  3. Unregistered contact lenses

Other illegal health products that were removed from online platforms included:

  • Diagnostic/health screening and personal care medical devices, such as blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, nasal aspirators and nebulizers
  • Analgesics/painkillers/muscle relaxants
  • Illegal aesthetic enhancement products such as dermal fillers and Botulinum toxin

Of the 1,288 illegal product listings removed, 644 were prescription medicines, such as acne creams and hair loss medicines. These medicines have not been approved by HSA to be safe, effective and of good quality.

Key takeaways

Sellers and suppliers of health products in Singapore should note that anyone who supplies health products that are adulterated, counterfeit or tampered with may face a fine of up to SGD 100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

All contact lenses may only be prescribed and dispensed by registered optometrists or practicing opticians. Unqualified persons who prescribe, supply, prepare or dispense contact lenses may face a fine of up to SGD 25,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months.

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Contact Information
Andy Leck
Principal
Singapore
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andy.leck@bakermckenzie.com
Ren Jun Lim
Principal
Singapore
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ren.jun.lim@bakermckenzie.com

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