Singapore: HSA removes about 2,500 listings of illegal health products from e-commerce platforms

28 Jul 2022    2 minute read
Sectors Healthcare & Life Sciences, Consumer Goods & Retail
IP Featured Content

In brief

On 20 July 2022, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that it had removed over 2,500 listings of illegal health products from local e-commerce and social media platforms between January to June 2022, with over 800 product listings removed during a week of intensified surveillance between 23 and 30 June.

Contents

Key takeaways

  • Sellers and suppliers should note health products, including prescription medicines and medical devices, may not be supplied without a valid licence. An individual who sells health products without a valid licence or not in accordance with the conditions of such licence may face a fine of up to SGD 50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years.
  • Further, anyone who supplies health products that are adulterated or counterfeit may face a fine of up to SGD 100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years.

In more detail

On 20 July 2022, the HSA announced that over 2,500 product listings of illegal health products were taken down from local e-commerce and social media platforms from January to June 2022.

This announcement followed the HSA’s participation in Operation Pangea, a global enforcement operation aimed at clamping down on the online sale of illegal health products. This was the HSA’s 15th consecutive year of participation.

From 23 to 30 June 2022, the HSA intensified online surveillance of local e-commerce platforms, and removed 800 product listings of illegal health products.

The removed product listings include unauthorised medicines and medical devices, including unregistered anti-diabetic medicines; unauthorised blood glucose monitoring devices; sexual enhancement products; prescription-only medicines; and COVID-19 related products.

Sellers and suppliers have been reminded not to sell prescription medicines and medical devices on e-commerce platforms, or health products that are adulterated or carry misleading claims.

The full HSA announcement may be found here.

 

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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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