Look fabulous with notified cosmetics

It has been said that a woman’s greatest asset is her beauty.

Our desire to look attractive has fuelled the demand for cosmetics, giving rise to a myriad of products from mascara and lip gloss to hair serum and whitening cream.

The market for cosmetics has huge potential for growth, attracting entrepreneurs from various establishments seeking to profit from this promising industry.

Hence, beauty products have flooded the market, delivered by sellers who may or may not be ethical in their pursuit of trade.

This necessitates the establishment of a regulatory authority to uphold the safety of users. In Malaysia, this important task is taken upon by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

In accordance with the law, all cosmetic products fall under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.

Cosmetic products in Malaysia are controlled through the notification procedure, which requires every license holder of a cosmetic product to declare all information regarding the product and company to MOH prior to marketing, manufacturing or importing a cosmetic product.

Notified cosmetics have a unique notification number (eg: NOT123456789K), which can be verified through the QUEST3+ Product Search System at npra.moh.gov.my and the NPRA Product Status mobile application.

The search results on the system also provide information of the holder and manufacturer of the cosmetic products.

To ensure the safety of users, notified cosmetic products must be manufactured by facilities that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guidelines.

In addition, NPRA conducts post-marketing surveillance regularly by testing cosmetic products that are sold in the market to ensure that the products do not contain prohibited substances.

Notified cosmetic products found to contain prohibited substances will be immediately terminated by the NPRA and the product will be banned from Malaysian market.

MOH conducts routine inspections on premises and individuals involved in online sale of cosmetic products, as well as screening activities at entry points throughout the country.

In 2019 alone, 3,301 non-notified cosmetic items amounting to RM 8.4 million were seized and another 7,095 cosmetic items worth RM 1.8 million were confiscated through screening activities in entry points around the country.

There are some unscrupulous sellers in the cosmetic industry who are willing to ignore the safety of their customers as long as they make substantial profits.

This is a serious offense as they are not just selling fake or unsafe products, but they are also peddling pipe dreams with superfluous claims to their customers.

Common modus operandi practiced by these sellers include posting images of plentiful amounts of cosmetic products prepared for postage to impress potential customers and to give the impression that their products are highly sought after, with the objective to instil confidence. In addition, promotions are sometimes made using fake testimonials over-claiming the benefits of their products.

Some advertisements are also found to contain exaggerated claims that exceed the permissible scope of cosmetics advertisements underlined in Medicines (Advertisement & Sale) Act 1956 and Regulations.

Therefore, be a smart consumer.

Do not fall victim to the false hope touted by these profiteers.

Consumers need to carefully evaluate advertisements especially those made through social media and exercise caution when choosing a product. It is recommended to purchase from reputable sellers with a good track record.

Consumers are also advised to be proactive by reporting any adverse effect after using a cosmetic product to NPRA.

This is important to ensure the safety of other users. If unsure, please talk to your pharmacist for further advice.

For any queries regarding cosmetics and medicines, consumers can also call National Pharmacy Call Centre (NPCC) at toll-free line 1800-88-6722 weekdays from 8am to 5pm.

Izzati Yussof is a pharmaceutical officer at Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health Department.