FDA monitoring illegal sale of virus test kits

THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now engaged in “exhaustive monitoring” of online selling platforms to track the illegal sale of FDA-certified Covid-19 test kits.

In an advisory on Thursday, the regulatory body said: “The FDA strongly reminds all concerned stakeholders and the general public that online selling of all types of FDA-certified Covid-19 test kits is strictly prohibited.”

It reminded the public that these Covid-19 test kits with FDA special certification “are strictly for medical professional use and not intended for personal use”.

FDA director-general Eric Domingo ordered regional field offices and regulatory enforcement units to “conduct exhaustive monitoring” of Lazada and Shopee to determine if Covid-19 test kits were being peddled on these online selling platforms.

The FDA also said it would “implement immediate regulatory and enforcement actions as warranted” against perpetrators.

Since the pandemic began last year, the government has gone after the illegal sale of Covid-19 test kits.

The test kits are only supposed to be administered by a medical professional.