Stringent tests, labelling for new drugs, food

NST: PUTRAJAYA: All new food and pharmaceutical products will have to undergo stringent testing before they can be brought on the market.
Both local and foreign producers and manufacturers will have to obtain “pre-market approval” and have their products certified fit for sale.
The Health Ministry Food Safety and Quality Control division director Dr Abd Rahim Mohamad said under the new requirement, producers of food and pharmaceutical products will need to conduct an analysis on their goods and submit the findings.
They must list clearly any claims of benefit and function, as well as the ingredients, nutrients and additives in the product.
Products will not be allowed on the shelves until they meet the requirements, he said.
And once a product has been approved, it will be given a serial number for easy monitoring.
Under the pre-market approval system, proper labelling of products will be emphasised and misleading product names will be rejected. For example, a biscuit cannot be called “Biskuat", implying that eating it would make one strong (kuat).
“This new system will curb label abuse and rampant false advertising,” Dr Abd Rahim said, adding that this would also ensure that product labels did not breach the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.
He said all labels must provide details of the producers and cannot make exaggerated claims, like “a good diet begins with X” and “drink X for a healthier lifestyle".
Claims that a certain product is recommended for those with diabetes, cancer, hypertension and kidney problems are also not allowed.
And producers cannot claim that their product is above the rest, by saying, for example, “X does not contain boric acid", as this negative remark suggests that competitors’ products contain the substance.
Dr Abd Rahim said Thailand and Indonesia had fully implemented this system and Malaysia would do it in stages.
“There are so many products being introduced. For starters, we will focus on children’s products, including milk formula, and perishable goods and products targeted at senior citizens,” he told a media dialogue on food safety and quality yesterday.