KUCHING: The Kuching District Health Department has confiscated 45 boxes of health products from a store here.
The confiscated items categorised as food were worth more than RM2,000 and violated healthcare regulations.
“This special ops was to ensure the labeling and advertising for health food and beverage products did not violate the rules in place.
“The raid showed a brand that had two products which violated the ethics under Regulation 18(6) of the Food Regulations 1985,” Sarawak Health Department Environmental Division of Food Safety and Quality officer Ahmad Zaidi Ujang told reporters yesterday.
He added that a notice of compound would be issued to the premises.
“Items categorised as food should not be labelled that it treats, prevents disease, unless approved by the
pharmacy.
“If convicted, the owner is liable to a two-year imprisonment or a fine of RM10,000,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuching Division Health Office Food Technology officer Christine Yeo Ya Hui said that the product label review could be done directly at the Putrajaya Health headquarters for a detailed consultation fee of RM250 or RM1,000.
She said the raid was a special operation carried out by 14 members of the Sarawak Health Department on Oct 17 and 18 simultaneously throughout Kuching Division, covering Kuching, Bau and Lundu.
The Kuching Division Health Office Food Safety and Quality unit has been monitoring the issue for quite some time. In 2018, three compound notices were issued under Section 32B of Food Act 1983 for health food products that violated regulations.
