IN Malaysia, the Drug Control Authority (DCA) is involved in the registration of pharmaceutical products and cosmetics; licensing of premises for importer, manufacturer and wholesaler; monitoring the quality of registered products in the market and Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring. In 1992, traditional medicines came under the regulation of the DCA.
In December 2001, the DCA suspended the registration of products containing Kava Kava after 30 cases of hepatotoxicity (liver damage) associated with the use of Kava Kava were reported. In the same year, the DCA also cancelled the registration of products containing herbs associated with aristolochic acid after it caused adverse effects towards the kidney such as nephropathy and end-stage renal failure.
