Sex enhancement, beauty products: Over 12,000 illegal online listings removed in 2023

SINGAPORE: The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said on Tuesday (Jan 30) over 12,000 listings of illegal health products were removed from local e-commerce and social media platforms in 2023. 

Joint enforcement efforts alongside the police, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Interpol, also led to the seizure of more than 1.12 million units of illegal health products last year. 

There were big spikes in both the number of illegal health products seized as well as listings of illegal health products taken down - more than 50 per cent and almost three times higher to 12,474 respectively - compared with 2022.

HSA largely attributed both increases to heightened enforcement, including a major operation in conjunction with the police to clamp down on a suspected illegal codeine syndicate, and two international operations led by Interpol targeting online sales of sexual enhancement products, among others. 

The authority added that the types of products that were seized "remained similar". Sexual enhancement or male vitality products and addictive medicines, such as codeine cough syrup and sedatives, continued to be the most common categories.

“These products were unregistered, counterfeit, or had potent medicinal ingredients and/or banned substances illegally added,” said HSA.

Sexual enhancement or male vitality products made up 32 per cent of the removed listings in 2023. At 18 per cent, listings for hair and beauty products, including those for treating hair loss, formed the third-highest removal.

COVID-19 related products like test kits, weight loss products, contraceptives and products meant to manage chronicle conditions like eczema, also featured prominently among the listings taken down last year.

Sixteen people were prosecuted for the sale and supply of illegal health products in 2023, with HSA highlighting one case which involved the illegal importation and sale of medicines on Telegram.

The agency worked with ICA, leading to the seizure of more than 94,000 units of sedatives and codeine tablets, and about 45L of cough syrup with an estimated street value of about S$190,000 (US$141,000). The seller, a 35-year-old man, was sentenced to 30 weeks' jail. 

Sellers and suppliers who are selling such products are liable to be prosecuted and if convicted, may face a jail term of up to three years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.

POTENT INGREDIENTS

HSA said sibutramine and potent steroids like dexamethasone, betamethasone and prednisolone, were the most common adulterants detected in illegal health products. 

Sibutramine is a prescription-only weight loss medicine that has been banned in Singapore in 2010 as it raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Betamethasone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone are potent steroids that should only be used under strict medical supervision as they are usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions. 

Five products marketed for weight loss contained sibutramine, while steroids were found in five products meant for pain relief or management of chronic products like cough and gout. 

Other reported serious effects include heart problems and central nervous system disorders such as psychosis and hallucinations.

HSA said last July that a woman experienced breathlessness, heart palpitations and nausea while another had palpitations and dizziness after consuming ENRU PLUS+, which was marketed online as a slimming product.

After taking "DND Rx9" pills for several months for gout, the agency said last May that a man in his 30s developed Cushing’s syndrome, a serious medical condition caused by the prolonged use of steroids. It is characterised by a round face or "moon face" appearance.

HSA added last November that an eczema cream, EUZEMA Confidence Revival Cream, was found to contain betametasone, while the level of arsenic in it was over 430 times higher than allowable limits. 

After using the cream for a year, a man in his 30s developed a skin reaction called purpura, where purplish red spots appear due to small bleeds under the skin.

Dr Kuan Ling Yee from the National Skin Centre said it was understandable for eczema patients to hope to explore alternative treatments while seeking a solution to their condition. 

“However, they should bear in mind that they may encounter false information and inaccurate representations of products, especially with the advancement of the Internet,” he said. 
 

ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS

HSA also warned consumers against taking medication to improve alertness after three men experienced serious adverse effects from doing so. 

The men, who are all in their 30s, developed multiple mouth ulcers and other symptoms, such as rash, fever and conjunctivitis, after they took modafinil or armodafinil to stay awake. 

Two of them developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening skin condition marked by the blistering and severe peeling of the skin.

“Modafinil and armodafinil are potent medicines that should only be prescribed by a doctor for medical conditions such as narcolepsy and used under medical supervision,” HSA said. 

It added that serious side effects, such as heart problems, hypertension, and psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, hallucinations or mania, have also been reported following self-medication with both drugs.

PRECAUTIONS 

HSA reminded consumers that illegal health products remain a threat to public health and safety. 

The dangers of using such products include false claims, lack of quality controls, and no recourse for consumers due to the difficulty of determining the source of such products

"As long as there is demand, unscrupulous dealers will continue to manufacture and sell products with promises of quick health fixes," it added. 

The agency said that while it would continue to clamp down on the sale and supply of illegal health products, consumers should also exercise caution when buying health products.

"It is not possible to know for sure whether a health product is illegal or harmful just by looking at a product or its packaging," HSA added. "Do not be misled by positive product testimonies or reviews online as they cannot be verified."

Consumers should thus be wary of health products that carry exaggerated claims and deals that "sound too attractive".

They can also refer to HSA’s database of notified health supplements and traditional medicines before making any purchases, while doctors or pharmacists should also be consulted in the event there is any uncertainty over the suitability of a product.

Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of these illegal products may contact HSA's Enforcement Branch at 6866-3485 or hsa_is [at] hsa.gov.sg.

"HSA will take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells or supplies illegal health products." the authority said.