The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged people to check product packaging carefully to avoid counterfeit goods, after several boxes of imported botulinum toxin injectable products were found to be counterfeit products that contained no botulinum toxin.
A package labeled as containing 11 boxes of botulinum toxin type A product — or Allergan’s Botox — sent from Hong Kong was intercepted by the Customs Administration and sent to the FDA for examination.
FDA division chief Yang Yi-chen (楊依珍) said that the packaging of the counterfeit goods looked very similar to that of authentic goods, but the components did not contain botulinum toxin type A and the brand name on the box was “Allercan.”
Several other differences were found on the package, but it would be difficult for consumers to notice unless they checked the package very carefully, she said, adding that this is the first time counterfeit Botox was discovered being imported to Taiwan.
Yang said botulinum toxin injections have become popular in Taiwan, but consumers should remember to make sure that the product used is legal and authentic.
Consumers should check the brand name and legal registration number printed in Chinese characters on the outer box, that there is an FDA inspection-approved sticker sealing the box, and that the information printed in the inner container and the outer box match, she said.
Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital dermatologist Huang Yu-huei (黃毓惠) said only doctors are allowed to inject botulinum toxin, but clients can ask physicians to show them the product packaging and legal registration number before accepting the treatment.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS