S'pore man, 32, fined S$266,500 for possessing & supplying 126 types of counterfeit cosmetic products

A 32-year-old man was fined S$266,500 in September 2024 for possessing and supplying 126 types of cosmetic products which were found to be counterfeit.

He had intended to sell these counterfeit cosmetic products through multiple accounts he had created on Lazada, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

This is the largest fine ever imposed for selling counterfeit cosmetic products, HSA added.

In a press release on Nov. 27, HSA also shared their first large-scale collaboration with online platform administrators to clamp down on the illegal sale and supply of health products sold online.

From Sep. 23 to Oct. 23, 2024, HSA removed 3,336 illegal health product listings and issued 1,471 warnings to sellers on local e-commerce and social media platforms.

A repeat offender is also being investigated for the sale of illegal health products.

Joint operation

Eight platforms participated in the operation, including Amazon Singapore, Carousell, Ebay Singapore, Facebook, Lazada, Qoo10, Shopee and Tiktok.

This joint operation illustrates HSA’s commitment to protect consumers from products which are substandard or counterfeit, the national authority said.

Majority were aesthetic enhancement products

Of the listings removed, aesthetic enhancement products formed the majority, accounting for 48 per cent (1,611) of the total listings.

These products included do-it-yourself beauty injectable kits, dermal fillers, Botulinum toxin, sutures, placenta injectables, and skin products marketed for facial lifting, skin whitening, and treating conditions like acne and eczema.

40 per cent of all the listings removed were prescription-only and pharmacy-only medicines, which have not been evaluated by HSA for safety, quality and efficacy.

In particular, do-it-yourself aesthetic beauty injectable kits comprising dermal fillers or Botulinum toxin injections are health products which require HSA’s approval before they can be supplied and should be administered by qualified medical practitioners, HSA said.

HSA stated that prescription-only and pharmacy-only medicines should be obtained from doctors or from pharmacists with a doctor’s prescription.

For contact lenses, they are medical devices that must be prescribed and dispensed only by registered optometrists or contact lens practising opticians.

"Consumers who use these products from online sources face the risk of severe adverse reactions," HSA said.

Advisory to sellers and suppliers

Strong enforcement action will be taken against those who engage in the illegal sale and supply of unregistered aesthetic enhancement products and dermal fillers, prescription-only medicines, medical devices and adulterated health products on local e-commerce and social media platforms, HSA said.

Those who supply such health products are liable to prosecution and, if convicted, may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to S$100,000.

Other cases

In August 2024, a 48-year-old woman who supplied unregistered health products during her home-based aesthetic services and promoted her services on social media was fined S$19,000 and sentenced to 2 weeks’ jail.

HSA seized 51 types of health products, including dermal fillers and vials of lidocaine carbonate injection, from the woman's home.

In another case, in February 2024, a 30-year-old woman was fined S$18,000 for selling an unregistered skin cream, ‘Star Cream (星星膏)’ on several local e-commerce platforms.

A four-month-old infant was diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome after the use of the cream that was bought online by his mother.

The cream was tested by HSA and found to contain clobetasol propionate, a potent steroid and ketoconazole, a medicine for fungal infections.

Consumer advisory

HSA encouraged consumers to be vigilant and "A-L-E-R-T" when purchasing and consuming health products:

• Avoid dubious products: Steer clear of products from unknown or unverified sources, especially online. You cannot be certain where and how these products were made and whether they have been adulterated with harmful ingredients.
• Look for reputable sellers: Only purchase from trusted pharmacies or well-known retailers with an established presence in Singapore.
• Examine claims: Be cautious and wary of products that claim to have miraculous results or “no side effects”.
• Report suspicious products: Help protect others by reporting dangerous or dubious products to HSA at Tel: 68663485 or email: [email protected].
• Trust medical advice: Seek advice from a healthcare professional and avoid self-medicating with unknown products.

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