Take note, if you or anyone you know are using these two cosmetic products! The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of the Malaysian Health Ministry has released a statement on April 1st and they informed that they found two products containing the scheduled poison, diphenhydramine.
Source: 11Street
These two are known as the Bao Fu Ling Snow Lotus and Bao Fu Ling Skincare creams and the ingredient, diphenhydramine must be used with supervision by a health professional; otherwise, it can cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight, which can result in severe allergies.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in the statement that the public is advised not to buy or use these creams. Since the cosmetic products contain diphenhydramine, it is considered a pharmaceutical product that must be registered with the Drug Control Authority. This ingredient is supposed to be used for temporary relief from itchiness and pain from insect bites, sunburn and skin irritations, and not as a cosmetic product.
Source: KPKesihatan
In the statement, Dr Noor Hisham also cautions sellers and distributors of these two products to immediately stop selling and distributing them. Under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 1984, individuals who are found guilty of violating the law can be fined a maximum of RM25,000 or sentenced to jail for up to three years or both for the first offence. For subsequent offences, these individuals can be sentenced to jail for a maximum of five years or a fine of RM50,000 or both.
Meanwhile, for companies who violate the same law, they are subject to RM50,000 fine for the first offence and up to RM100,000 fine if they have subsequent offences. A check on various online shopping portals shows that the items in question are not available on some sites, but other sites still have them in stock.
Source: Tokopedia
For more information or if you have any concerns about cosmetic products, you can send an email to kosmetik@npra.gov.my or check the item using the official NPRA website here. Otherwise, you can also call them at 03-7883 5400.
Check your cosmetics at home and if you find these products, make sure that you don’t use it!
