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Singapore: HSA detects potent adulterants in five products sold on local e-commerce platforms

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In brief

On 30 December 2021, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that it had detected potent adulterants in five products that were marketed on local e-commerce and social media platforms. The HSA has since removed the affected listing and issued warnings to sellers of said products.

Key takeaways

  • While there are currently no registration or licensing requirements in relation to the import, manufacture or sales of health supplements, dealers must comply with the HSA’s safety and quality standards. The addition of medicinal ingredients such as steroids is prohibited, and there are strict toxic heavy metal, microbial, vitamin and mineral limits.
  • Anyone found to have supplied products that are adulterated may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to SGD 100,000 upon conviction.

Background

On 30 December 2021, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that it had detected potent adulterants in five products that were marketed on local e-commerce and social media platforms. The HSA has since removed the affected listing and issued warnings to sellers of said products.

A majority of the affected products were marketed as health supplements that purported to bring about restorative or metabolic effects such as the treatment of joint pain or weight loss.

Sellers have been directed to stop the sale of the affected products immediately.

The full HSA announcement may be found here.

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Andy Leck is the managing principal of Baker McKenzie.Wong & Leow. Mr. Leck is recognised by the world’s leading industry and legal publications as a leader in his field. Asian Legal Business notes that he “always gives good, quick advice, [is] client-focused and has strong technical knowledge for his areas of practice”. Alongside his current role as managing principal, Mr. Leck has held several leadership positions in the Firm and externally as a leading IP practitioner. He currently serves on the International Trademark Association's Board of Directors and is a member of the Singapore Copyright Tribunal.

Author

Ren Jun is an associate principal of Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow. Ren Jun extensively represents local and international intellectual property-intensive clients in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, such as anti-counterfeiting; civil and criminal litigation; commercial issues; regulatory clearance; and advertising laws. Ren Jun also advises on a wide range of issues relating to the healthcare industries. These include regulatory compliance in respect of drugs, medical devices, clinical trials, health supplements and cosmetics; product liability and recall; and anti-corruption. Ren Jun is currently a member of the Firm's Asia Pacific Healthcare ASEAN Economic Community; Product Liability and Regulatory Sub-Committees.

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