KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Health Department seized 313 types of various cosmetic products worth about RM720,000 in a special operation in the state capital yesterday.
Its director Datuk Dr Zaini Hussin said the products were seized for various offences under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations 1984.
He said the items, seized during raids at four premises here, include unregistered beauty products.
The raids were conducted by 20 enforcement officers from the state Health Department's pharmacy division led by its branch head Norma Zakaria.
"Assisted by three policemen, the team went to these four premises that were suspected of being places where people produced and sold these cosmetic products via the e-dagang platform.
"Upon checks, the team found that a majority of the products were unregistered and were non-notified items, while the rest were found to contain scheduled poisons," he said in a statement.
Dr Zaini believed most of the seized products were smuggled in from a neighbouring country.
"Most of the products, especially those smuggled into the country, contained high levels of scheduled poisons and could be harmful to people's health."
As of last month, the division has seized various types of cosmetic products worth RM1.8 million in a series of operations throughout Kelantan, said Dr Zaini.
A strong demand for cheap cosmetic products has seen Kelantan turned into a dumping ground for unregistered and non-notified beauty products from Thailand, which may contain harmful ingredients.
The products are either marketed as "made in Thailand" brands or repackaged by local cosmetic entrepreneurs under their own brands after buying them in bulk across the border.
Available at markets and malls in every town and village in Kelantan, their growing popularity — judging from the increase in the number of products seized in the last two years — is a worry for the state health authorities.
Selling or possession of unnotified cosmetic products is an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetic Regulations 1984, and is punishable under the Sale of Drugs Act 1952.
Those found guilty may be fined a maximum of RM25,000 and sentenced to three years' jail for the first offence, and a maximum fine of RM50,000 and five years' jail for subsequent offences.
Companies convicted would be ordered to pay a maximum fine of RM50,000 for the first offence and RM100,000 for the following offences.
In Kelantan, border enforcement agencies such as the General Operations Force (GOF) have been making huge seizures of such products over the past few years at several locations.