TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
BPOM seizes illegal cosmetics, drugs worth Rp 1.2b
Change Size
Harmful products – Several examples of illegal drugs and cosmetics confiscated by the Pekanbaru office of the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) are displayed in a press conference in Pekanbaru on Wednesday. (thejakartapost.com/Rizal Harahap)
T
he Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) in Pekanbaru has confiscated 16,991 items of illegal drugs and cosmetics, of 1,086 different types, worth Rp 1.2 billion (US$89,702).
The products were confiscated because they did not have distribution permits or contained dangerous substances, the agency said.
BPOM Pekanbaru head Indra Ginting said investigators confiscated the illegal products from 11 kiosks, cosmetic stores and beauty parlors during raids conducted in Bengkalis, Dumai, Kampar and Pekanbaru. Some of the locations were detected through internet investigations they had conducted since January.
“The products marketed online were mostly illegal drugs,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Indra added that apart from the illegal drugs, other products confiscated during the operations were herbal medicines, locally known as “jamu”, and cosmetics such as lipsticks, whitening cream and face foundation. Most of the products were marketed as imported brands, while the value of local products amounted to only around Rp 100 million.
“The products have imported brands. They really look like imported products and their packaging is emblazoned with ‘original’. It cannot be confirmed yet on whether the products are indeed imported or counterfeit,” said Indra.
He further said most of the vendors claimed they did not know that the products they distributed contained dangerous substances. “Some of them were aware that they were illegal products because the BPOM had often conducted sudden inspections targeting the products. But they still distributed them due to high consumer demand,” said Indra.
“Online shops have been growing rapidly in Indonesia and this phenomenon means the BPOM has to increase surveillance. Consumers must be careful because in online shopping, they must first transfer money before their orders are delivered. As a consequence, consumers cannot check the originality of the products,” said Indra.
He called on consumers to stop using drugs and cosmetics without distribution permits to avoid any negative effects. “The side effects of products containing dangerous substances will appear for users in the longer term,” said Indra.
“Consumers must be careful and not easily lured by cheap prices. Please make sure that we only use products already registered with the BPOM. Their registration numbers can be seen on the product packaging,” said Indra.
None of the vendors has been named a suspect despite the huge value of the confiscated products. “We are processing the cases. Let’s wait for developments. Last year, we [BPOM] handed over 15 cases to the police,” said Indra. (ebf)
