In brief
In May 2026, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced that, during a 2-week period in March 2026, it removed 1,000 online listings and seized 6,600 units of illegal health products in its joint international operation with INTERPOL. The removals were part of an INTERPOL-led global enforcement exercise involving 90 countries named Operation Pangea XVIII, targeting the sale of illicit health products.
Key takeaways
HSA regularly announces its surveillance and enforcement efforts against importers and suppliers of illegal health products. Anyone caught importing, manufacturing and/or supplying illegal health products is liable on conviction to a fine of up to SGD 100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 years.
In more detail
From 10 March to 23 March 2026, HSA took down 959 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms, and issued warnings to 152 sellers.
The listings removed included a wide range of products such as unregistered contact lenses, prescription-only skin creams for acne and eczema, sexual enhancement medicines, nasal aspirators and nasal sprays used for relief of nasal congestion and allergies, and oxygen concentrators.
Unregistered contact lenses accounted for over 82% of the listings removed. HSA reminded sellers that it is illegal to sell contact lenses online. Contact lenses are medical devices that must be registered with HSA to ensure that they meet the required standards of safety, performance and quality.
HSA also seized 6,641 units of illegal health products from the borders that were intercepted at Singapore’s land, air and sea checkpoints.
The bulk of the products seized at the borders were prescription medicines such as painkillers or sedatives (about 36%), anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin (30%), and dermal fillers (about 6%). HSA reminded members of the public that ivermectin is not approved for use in the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 and dermal fillers must only be administered by registered healthcare professionals under strict conditions.
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