Bangkok: The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the Royal Thai Police and partner networks, has incinerated 31 tons of illegal health products valued at more than 300 million baht. The destruction of these items is part of a comprehensive crackdown on unauthorized and potentially hazardous health products.
According to Thai News Agency, Pharmacist Supatra Boonsearm, Secretary-General of the FDA, outlined the collaborative efforts undertaken by the FDA, the Royal Thai Police's Central Investigation Bureau, Consumer Protection Police Division, Intellectual Property Crime Division, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and provincial public health offices to tackle the illegal trade of health products. These operations target manufacturers, importers, and distributors of unauthorized goods. Once cases are finalized, the seized items become the property of the Ministry of Public Health and are destroyed as they lack proper labeling and are deemed unsafe for consumption.
The incinerated products comprised 1,376 items, totaling over 3 million pieces from 131 cases. The breakdown of cases includes 90 related to cosmetics, 51 to food, 32 to medicine, 45 to cosmetics (which may indicate a categorization error), 2 to medical equipment, and 1 to hazardous materials. Major cases involved smuggling activities such as the illegal importation of Lyn Mie brand sanitary pads, counterfeit cough syrup production, and unauthorized distribution of beauty products, including fillers and Botox. Other cases involved smuggling of cosmetics, food products from China, medical gloves, and nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The Laojun brand mosquito repellent was highlighted as a potential public health hazard among the seized goods. The Secretary-General emphasized that today's destruction effort reinforces the commitment of the FDA, the Royal Thai Police, and other agencies to dismantle the illegal health product trade from its origins to the end consumer. This action aims to prevent the reentry of these products into the market and assure the public of the stringent regulation of health products in Thailand. Citizens are encouraged to report any illegal activities related to health products to the FDA hotline 1556 or through the FDA's official communication channels for prompt legal action.