KOTA BARU: Kelantan Health Department, through its Pharmaceutical Enforcement Branch (CPF), has carried out 185 raids between 2023 and August this year, with seizures worth more than RM2.1 million.
State health director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said the seizures involved 190 cosmetic products.
He said the CPF also received assistance from the General Operations Force (GOF), which handed over several confiscated items from the border areas, most of which were cosmetic products.
Between 2023 and August 2025, hs said GOF has confiscated over RM842,000 worth of unnotified cosmetics.
“The Health Ministry through CPF Kelantan, takes seriously the manufacturing, distribution and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including cosmetics not notified with the Ministry.
“We will continue to step up enforcement efforts to combat the sale of these products in Kelantan,” he said today.
Dr Zaini added that CPF Kelantan remains committed to protecting public health by ensuring that only registered pharmaceutical and notified cosmetic products are made available in the market.
He also expressed his concern over the sale of cheap cosmetic products from neighbouring country that did not have approval from the ministry.
“The trend is worrying as most of the cosmetics brought in did not undergo safety checks and were not notified with the ministry.
“Local entrepreneurs are competing to bring in these products because of the attractive prices and easy access, but they fail to consider the serious health risks involved,” he said.
Dr Zaini said that all cosmetic products must be notified with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) before they can be marketed to consumers.
“Products that are not notified may contain prohibited substances such as mercury or hydroquinone, which can cause long-term health complications,” he added.
He then warned that the sale or possession of unnotified cosmetics was an offence under Regulation 18A(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, punishable under the Sale of Drugs Act 1952.
First-time offenders may face fines up to RM25,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Repeat offenders may face fines up to RM50,000 or five years’ jail, while companies can be fined up to RM100,000.
Dr Zaini explained that many of the seized products contained prohibited substances, including hydroquinone, tretinoin and mercury.
Such chemicals, he said, could cause serious health issues such as skin irritation, kidney damage, nerve disorders and even increase the risk of skin cancer.
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