Thailand seizes 2.35 million herbal inhalers worth over S$4.8 million made in illegal factories

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized more than 2 million herbal inhalers worth over 120 million baht (S$4.8 million) from four illegal manufacturing sites, The Nation reported.

Laboratory findings that Hong Thai Herbal Inhalers were contaminated with harmful microorganisms led to the raids at four illegal production and storage locations on Oct. 30.

Police found that the company have a manufacturing licence for a factory located in Bang Phai, Bang Khae District, Bangkok, but the herbal products were secretly produced elsewhere without FDA approval.

This is a serious violation of public health laws.

The contaminated Hong Thai herbal inhalers found at these four unauthorised facilities come in various formulations and production batches, Thai authorities said.

Nine types of herbal products were confiscated, totalling more than 2,350,000 items, with an estimated value of more than 120 million baht.

Producing or selling counterfeit herbal medicines carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to one million baht (S$40,200), or both, Thai authorities warned.

The FDA in Thailand is going to initiate a recall of all counterfeit or unsafe herbal inhalers linked to this case.

Analysis of samples will be publicly announced soon.

The seizure was done in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Samut Sakhon Provincial Public Health Office.

Consumers can report suspicious or unlicensed products via the FDA hotline 1556 or at provincial public health offices nationwide.

Top photo via FDA Thai Facebook