Materia Medica Malaysiana

No extension of grace period on cosmetics registration

KUALA LUMPUR: All cosmetic products for sale must be registered as there is no extension of the grace period for unregistered cosmetic products.

Rumours among certain quarters that the grace period, which expired on June 30, has been extended are untrue, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

The ministry had given the industry up to Dec 31 last year to submit their applications for registration and a six-month grace period thereafter for them to use the products pending approval.

He said in an interview that his ministry would continue with its nationwide crackdown on offenders, which began with raids on cosmetics salons in Penang earlier this month.

Earlier this month, Dr Chua announced the setting up of a 35-man enforcement team to crack down on beauty salons nationwide following complaints.

These included the use of unregistered products, unsubstantiated claims on the efficacy of some hi-tech treatment like sheep placenta injections and handling of equipment by unqualified personnel.

Describing the situation as serious, Dr Chua said seven of the 13 salons checked in Penang on Nov 4 – the first of the nationwide raids – were caught using unregistered products.

He said the ministry's enforcement team seized various goods, including capsules, syringes and cream which

were worth between RM20,000 and RM30,000.

During a random check by The Star in the Klang Valley earlier this month some retailers said they were unaware of the registration exercise while others claimed they had submitted their applications for registration and were still waiting for approval.

A beautician in the Klang Valley, who provides anti-ageing treatments costing thousands of ringgit, using imported animal placenta and vitamin C injections,said her products were still awaiting approval.

Another beautician in Kuala Lumpur, who is providing plant cells injection for anti-ageing treatments costing nearly RM20,000 claimed that her plant-based products were very safe.

“My products have international recognition,” she said, insisting that there was no need to register with the ministry.

Under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations Act, 1984, all cosmetics, imported or local, must be registered by June 30, failing which they will be classified as illegal.

Anyone found guilty under the Act could be fined up to RM25,000 or jailed up to three years or both for the first offence.

Those convicted for the second time face fines of up to RM50,000 or a maximum imprisonment of five years or both.

As for companies, they can be fined up to RM50,000 for the first offence and up to RM100,000 for the second.