PETALING JAYA: Unregistered traditional medicines worth over RM30mil have been seized over the past three years, the Pharmacy Enforcement Division revealed.
“Throughout the period from 2023 to 2025, the Health Ministry, through the Pharmacy Enforcement Division, had intensified enforcement efforts to curb the sales and distribution of unregistered products across both physical and digital marketplaces,” it said.
The division told The Star that it had conducted 4,035 enforcement raids nationwide based on public complaints, intelligence gathering, monitoring and surveillance, inspection of physical premises as well as monitoring of online sales platforms.
“As a result of these enforcement activities, 43,122 unregistered products were seized, which include 19,657 traditional medicines,” the division said.
The total value of unregistered products seized between 2023 and 2025 was RM108,650,331, of which traditional products made up RM31,298,018.
Last year, the division received 1,009 complaints. Meanwhile, there were 539 complaints in 2024 and 394 complaints in 2023.
“The sale of unregistered products violates Regulation 7(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 and constitutes an offence under Regulation 30(1) of the same regulations, punishable under Section 12(1) of the Sale of Drugs Act,” it said.
Offenders may be subject to a fine not exceeding RM25,000, imprisonment not exceeding three years or both for the first offence, and a fine not exceeding RM50,000, imprisonment not exceeding five years or both for subsequent offences.
“In addition to enforcement operations, the Pharmacy Enforcement Division proactively and continuously monitors and screens advertisements across all media platforms, including print media, electronic media and new media (digital) platforms,” it said.
The division has been screening websites and various social media platforms.
In the past three years, a total of 89,997 medical advertisements were screened.
As a result, 52,618 URL links were blocked or removed from e-commerce platforms during the same period.
Warning letters were also issued, investigations carried out and offenders prosecuted.
“The division also collaborates with government and private entities to strengthen efforts in combating the distribution of unregistered medicines in Malaysia,” it said.
