BALIK PULAU: The Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Health Ministry will tighten checks on all cosmetic and health food products sold online in the country.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said this was in order to detect fake products which can cause side effects to users between the ages of 15 and 30.
He warned that action would be taken against those selling fake cosmetic and health food products, especially those hiding behind fake famous brands, as they are using banned harmful substances.
“Anyone who faces any problem should come forward and report to the authorities so that the necessary action can be taken against the culprit or culprits. I also want to advise users to be very careful and not to be conned into using fake products just to look beautiful.
“Instead, your health will be at risk after using such products for some time,” he told newsmen after taking part in a house repairing programme under the Touch Point 2.0 project organised by the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister’s Department today.
Present were Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, Bayan Lepas assemblyman Nordin Ahmad and state ICU director Datuk Syed Shaari Syed Abdullah.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Malaysian Consumer Protection and Welfare Board had received 400 complaints on the side effects of using beauty products and health foods of fake famous brands.
The items were sold online at below 50 per cent the price of the original brand.
Most of the items were sourced from Thailand, Hong Kong, China and South Korea, mainly targeting young women.
The common side effect was dermatitis or itchy skin rashes.
Earlier, Dr Hilmi, who is also Balik Pulau member of parliament, said a total of 198 houses in his constituency have been repaired at the cost of RM1.7 million this year.