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.
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