SINGAPORE, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized 970,707 units of illegal health products and removed 7,351 listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms in 2024, the agency said in a statement on Monday.

Codeine cough syrup accounted for the largest share of seized products at 54 percent, followed by sexual enhancement medicines at 19 percent, sedatives at 18 percent, and other prescription drugs at 9 percent.

Among the removed listings, 37 percent were skin and hair enhancement products, while 24 percent were contact lenses. Another 7 percent consisted of treatments for chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension, allergies, and pain relief.

The HSA also issued warnings to 2,868 online sellers last year.

Three consumers were hospitalized due to serious adverse effects from illegal products, the authority reported.

"Health products that have previously been detected to contain harmful ingredients may resurface for sale under different packaging to evade detection," said Associate Professor Chan Cheng Leng, director of the HSA's Health Products Regulation Group. "Consumers need to be aware that illegal health products often masquerade as quick fixes and miracle cures." Enditem

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