KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 113 health products, worth RM2.48 million, were seized last year for not registering with the Health Ministry (KKM) or products mixed with poison.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the number had increased compared to only 43 health products, worth RM1.81 million, seized in 2013.
“In 2013, 82 direct sales premises were inspected nationwide while 127 premises were inspected last year.
“For the same period, 108 operations were conducted on direct sales premises found found in violation of the act enforced by the ministry’s pharmacy enforcement division,” he told the Dewan Negara sitting here yesterday.
He was replying to Senator Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman who wanted to know the regulatory measures taken by multi level marketing (MLM) companies who sold supplementary food and medicine that could endanger the health of consumers.
Dr Hilmi said the ministry’s pharmacy enforcement division conducted regulatory activities on all premises selling health products including MLM companies.
He said pharmacy enforcement officers nationwide conducted ongoing activities such as market monitoring, routine inspection, prosecution, raids, confiscation and other enforcement measures on premises found to have violated the laws.
Throughout 2012 until last year, 194 offences relating to direct sales companies were prosecuted in court under the Sales of Drugs Act 1952, he said.
He said direct sales companies found to have committed the offences could be imposed a fine of up to RM50,000 for the first offence and fine up to RM100,000 for subsequent offences upon conviction.
“Individuals found to have committed offences under the Sales of Drugs Act 1952 are liable to a fine not exceeding RM25,000 or imprisonment not more than three years or both for the first offence and fine not exceeding RM50,000 or jail not more than five years or both for subsequent offences,” he said. — Bernama