Thailand seizes over 2 million tainted herbal inhalers in massive FDA raid

The operation, worth an estimated 120 million baht (US$3.7 million), was carried out with the Consumer Protection Police Division and the Samut Sakhon Provincial Public Health Office. Officials found that Hong Thai Herbal Inhalers, a popular product line, were being secretly produced at four unlicensed factories despite the company holding a valid manufacturing permit elsewhere, Malay Mail reported.

During the raids on Oct. 30, authorities confiscated over 2.35 million items across nine types of herbal products. FDA secretary-general Supatra Boonserm said the products were unsafe and warned that those involved could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to one million baht, The Nation reported.

She said the FDA would initiate an immediate recall of any counterfeit or unsafe inhalers linked to the case, adding that samples had been sent to the Department of Medical Sciences for testing. Consumers were urged to be cautious when purchasing herbal goods and to look out for irregular packaging or missing authorization labels.