HSA joins Interpol in global clampdown: 959 illegal health products delisted in Singapore, 152 sellers warned
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) removed 959 online listings of illegal health products and warned 152 sellers in a joint operation led by Interpol from March 10 to 23.Eighty-nine other countries joined the clampdown, dubbed Operation Pangea, which targeted products such as unregistered medicines and medical devices and as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.HSA said on Thursday (May 7) that over 82 per cent of the listings taken down in Singapore were selling unregistered contact lenses that have not been certified to have met the required safety, performance and quality standards.Other illegal listings were selling products such as prescription-only skin creams for acne and eczema, sexual enhancement medicines, nasal aspirators and nasal sprays, and oxygen concentrators.At Singapore's checkpoints, 6,641 units of illegal health products were seized, with most items brought in through international mail.Prescription medicines such as painkillers or sedatives made up 36 per cent of the confiscated products, with anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin coming second at 30 per cent.