PETALING JAYA: Consumer safety remains a key priority as interest in beauty-focused functional wellness products grows in Malaysia, with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) conducting post-market surveillance and taking regulatory action against those that fail to meet requirements.
The agency said this includes unregistered or adulterated products, as well as those found to carry misleading claims, in response to questions from StarLifestyle.
The NPRA, which operates under the Health Ministry, acknowledged the growing crossover between health and beauty as brands venture beyond topical products.
Ingestible beauty products broadly refer to foods, drinks or supplements, including those containing ingredients such as collagen, consumed to support skin, hair or other aspects of appearance.
From a regulatory perspective, however, these products are not all classified in the same way.
Health supplements fall under the NPRA’s purview and must be registered under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, with a valid MAL registration number required before they can be marketed.
Beauty products are also regulated under the same regulations but are intended for external application only.
They are subject to product notification with the NPRA.
Functional foods and drinks, meanwhile, are regulated separately under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 by the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Programme.
Unlike health supplements, these products are consumed as part of the normal diet and are not subject to the NPRA’s product registration requirements.
The need for a clear distinction becomes increasingly significant as products are marketed based on beauty and wellness claims, including those relating to skin health, hair and overall appearance.
For consumers considering ingestible beauty products, the NPRA advises them to be wary of exaggerated or unrealistic claims and to assess whether products are supported by scientific evidence, rather than relying solely on marketing claims or social media testimonials.
As the lines between wellness and aesthetics increasingly blur, the regulatory landscape highlights a growing challenge for the industry – determining where beauty ends and health begins, particularly when products are intended to be consumed.
> Read more about the rise of ingestible beauty products and what industry insiders have to say about the trend in today’s StarLifestyle feature.
