Thailand Destroys Over 3 Million Illegal Health Products
Thailand's FDA destroyed over 3 million counterfeit and illegal health products seized from 131 cases, including fake medicines, cosmetics, and medical devices, as part of a crackdown on unauthorized manufacturers and smugglers. The operati
On July 13, 2025, Supatra Bunserm, Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced that the FDA worked with police, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and provincial health offices to aggressively crack down on illegal health product manufacturers, importers, and distributors. After court cases conclude, confiscated goods are handed to the Public Health Ministry for destruction, as they are illegally produced or imported without authorization, lack Thai labeling, and pose health risks. This destruction operation involved 1,376 items totaling over 3 million units seized from 131 cases, including 90 cosmetics cases, 51 food cases, and 32 medicine cases, plus medical devices and hazardous substances. Notable cases included a warehouse smuggling Lyn Mie sanitary pads in Bangkok, an illegal cough medicine factory in Pathum Thani, networks importing and selling counterfeit fillers and Botox, unlicensed cosmetics like shampoo and sunscreen, a Chinese supermarket importing unauthorized food products, illegal medical glove manufacturing, and smuggled nitrous oxide and Laojun mosquito repellent. FDA Secretary-General Supatra emphasized the agency's commitment to dismantling the illegal health product supply chain from source to consumer and restoring public confidence. She urged the public to report violations to the FDA hotline 1556. Police Deputy Commander Natsakdi Chaownasat pledged continued coordination with the FDA to prosecute offenders and warned businesses against selling non-standard products, promising strict legal action against violators.
