Singapore takes down 7,300 illegal health product listings from e-commerce platforms

By Dat Nguyen   February 3, 2025 | 07:43 pm PT
Singapore authorities last year removed more than 7,300 illegal health products, including skin and hair cosmetics, from e-commerce platforms as part of a collaboration with partners including Shopee and TikTok Shop.

The coordinated effort between the Health Sciences Authority and other agencies has disrupted the supply of illegal health products and protected the public from potential harm, the authority said in a statement.

E-commerce platforms that collaborated with the authority in the operation included Shopee, TikTok, Amazon Singapore and eBay Singapore.

An illegal product seized by the Health Sciences Authority in 2024. Photo courtesy of the authority

An illegal product seized by the Health Sciences Authority in 2024. Photo courtesy of the authority

Among the 7,300 listings removed, 37% were products advertised to enhance skin and hair, and 24% were contact lenses.

Authorities also seized 970,700 illegal health products last year.

A notable seizure of illegal products took place in May when the Health Sciences Authority and the police busted an illegal manufacture and supply of cough syrups in a condominium unit in Geylang, a neighborhood in eastern Singapore.

The syrups were manufacturer in unsanitary conditions, including the bathrooms and kitchen sinks.

Products worth SGD130,000 (US$96,000) were confiscated, making it one of the larges seizures of illegal medicine in the country in the past five years.

The Health Sciences Authority also issued a warning that suppliers and sellers of illegal products face up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.

Last year, 30 individuals were prosecuted for their involvement in the selling and supplying of such products.

The authority also issued warnings to over 2,800 online sellers.

 
 
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