Two fined for possessing unregistered products
LIMBANG: The Sessions Court here last Tuesday fined a retailer a total of RM20,000 for two counts of possession of products not registered with the Ministry of Health after she pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court also fined another retailer RM10,000 for a similar offence.
In the first case, the female accused pleaded as charged under Regulation 7(1)( a) of Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, punishable under Section 12( 1) of Sale of Drugs Act 1952 which carries a maximum fine of RM25,000 or jail sentence of up to three years.
She was also charged with violation of Regulation 18A( 1) Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 which also provides for a maximum fine of RM25,000 or jail up to three years for possession of un-notified cosmetics.
Sessions Court Judge Steve Ritikos fined her RM10,000 for each charge.
According to the brief facts of the case, two types of unregistered products and four types of unnotified cosmetics were seized during a raid at her premises last February by the Pharmacy Enforcement Division. The seized products were not registered with the Ministry of Health, and contained ‘hydroquinone’, a type of skin-bleaching ingredient that may be detrimental to user’s health.
In another case, another retailer was also charged under Regulation 7( 1) ( a) Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, punishable under Section 12(1) of Sale of Drugs Act 1952.
She was fined RM8,000 after pleading guilty to possessing three types of unregistered products, which includes ‘majun’ products and sex stimulants.
An officer from the Pharmacy Enforcement Division of the State Health Department prosecuted both cases.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Health Department reminded all business owners to comply with the Ministry of Health regulation regarding the sale and supply of medicine and cosmetics to prevent harm to consumers’ health.