Crackdown on dangerous consumer products

By Maxmilian Wechsler


WITH only 40 police officers at his disposal, the Police Colonel responsible for protecting the public from a growing number of easily available yet potentially dangerous consumer products clearly has his hands full.

Despite manpower shortages, the unit is deeply involved in a raft of projects and initiatives designed to bring about greater levels of consumer protection.

Explains Police Colonel Phrutipongse Prayoonsiri, superintendent of the 4th subdivision of the Consumer Protection Suppression Division (CPSD): "The duty of my subdivision is to not only suppress but also prevent all crimes involved with drugs, medical equipment, cosmetics and food.

"It is a huge problem right now as such products can be found in countless markets, street vendors and shops. Some are even sold in department stores. They may be fake, tainted and expired – and aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"We work throughout Thailand, with most seizures being made in Bangkok, the biggest market.  So our focus is on public relations to inform the public as well as sellers and manufacturers as to how dangerous those products can be."

The Colonel says the problem of dangerous products has been around for decades, but has worsened recently with the rise in the popularity of health-related items.

"We are spreading the word that some items can be very dangerous, and how the public can identify them. We are also warning the manufacturers and sellers that they risk arrest.

Lethal drugs

Col Phrutipongse continues: "The most dangerous fakes are smuggled into Thailand from third world countries. They include products claiming to treat cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and erectile dysfunctional drugs like Viagra. These represent the biggest problem for us in Thailand. These can be extremely dangerous. Some are made in Thailand as well, and we’ve already arrested one such manufacturer.

"In some cases, the drugs may be original but are not suitable for use because, for instance, they may not have been stored at the right temperature and yet they are sold to certain hospitals and given to patients.

"We also seize original drugs imported illegally from the US and Europe without approval from the FDA.

"Some pharmacies and other establishments that sell drugs approved by the FDA may offer customers a fake and therefore much cheaper version of a well known brand.

"The business of fakes is worth hundreds of millions of baht."

How can customers tell whether the drug has been officially approved?

Says Col Phrutipongse: "Every drug made locally or imported has to be approved by the FDA. There’s a Thai language sticker on the packaging. This has a serial number as well, which separates legal from illegal drugs. If the package doesn’t have a serial number, it is fake, smuggled, spoiled or perhaps expired.

"To check whether a drug has been approved, people can call FDA. Beware, though, as some products carry fake FDA serial numbers."

Medical equipment

In a recent crackdown, CPSD police seized 10,000 pairs of fake contact lenses that can cause eye infection.

"We also confiscated colored teeth braces, which are currently very popular with teenagers. These can be purchased at beauty salons, where untrained staff insert the braces and later remove them. This is dangerous. The procedure should be performed by a qualified dentist."

Dangerous cosmetics

Some whitening products, including liquids, creams or even shampoo to dye hair, may contain dangerous ingredients, says Col Phrutipongse.

"Many are made in Thailand and given attractive packaging.  They’re usually much cheaper than well-known brands and sometimes appear in premium department stores. Some are even advertized in the media.

"Consumers buy these whitening products, even though they know they can be dangerous. The affect can be quite devastating as these products often include substances that can severely damage skin. They may even cause cancer. We’ve received lots of complaints about skin problems from users.

"Cheap cosmetics are big business these days, but they are also a source of concern. You can find them in markets, small shops and even in booths rented in some department stores."

Tainted foods

Certain health foods, including those to promote weight loss, often contain harmful drugs like sibutramine. People should only buy products approved by the FDA, says Col Phrutipongse. "There’s nothing wrong with health foods if the ingredients are right but sometimes the manufacturer will add drugs that are not listed on the package. People have even been known to eat whitening products that are supposed to be applied to the skin. This is, of course, very dangerous.

"We also seize fresh vegetables sold at various markets. The problem here is that they’ve been sprayed with pesticides, including borax (used as multipurpose cleaner), which is used to make the vegetables appear greener.

He adds: "Borax is also occasionally used to make meat look redder."

The superintendent recommends that consumers always check the expiry date written on product packaging.

Websites also targeted

Websites promoting potentially harmful products are also targeted, adds Police Lieutenant Colonel Sanya Niumpradit, second in command of the CPSD’s 4th subdivision.

"We check websites to see that anyone advertizing food, drugs or cosmetics has approval from the FDA.  And we identify those selling dangerous products.

"Most of the items advertized or sold are cosmetics and drugs, especially those involving erectile dysfunctional problems.

"We not only monitor these websites but also take action. Most of the dangerous items offered on the Internet are sent to customers by mail or hand delivered. We order these items and then arrest the sellers. We have already conducted several such operations.

"There are many such websites but we don’t have enough personnel to search or monitor them. We need more personnel as the problem with dangerous products is increasing. In fact, a lack of personnel is one of our biggest challenges."

Prevention plays a major part in the unit’s activities, says Col Phrutipongse: "We work with the FDA, going with them to chosen markets and testing vegetables on the spot with

special equipment. If found to be harmful, we tell the market manager to take action. If improvements aren’t made, we arrest the vendor involved.

"Often the vendors do not know they’re selling something harmful or illegal as they’ve bought the products from someone else. In that case, we tell them about the dangers in selling bad or tainted products and explain the laws. If they continue to sell these products, they’ll be arrested.

"Last year we investigated more than 200 cases. Our aim is not to arrest only the sellers but also the manufacturers.

"Apart from inspecting markets with FDA officials, we also have volunteer informers to check out places selling bad products. We’ve received many complaints from people who’ve got sick.

"Right now we are conducting a media campaign telling the public of the potential dangers associated with fake, illegal and tainted products," says Col Phrutipongse.

Anyone with information or complaints should call CPSD hotline: 1135