BPOM Finds Over 1.6 Million Items of Medicine, Vitamins, and Cosmetics Containing Hazardous Substances

The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) found over 1.6 million items of medicine, vitamins, and cosmetics containing chemical drug ingredients (CDI) and hazardous substances harmful to public consumption.

Details show 658,205 units of traditional medicine and health vitamins containing CDIs were conventionally distributed, with an economic value reaching Rp27.8 billion.

Furthermore, 1 million illegal cosmetic items were found containing prohibited coloring agents that can cause cancer, namely K3 and K10 dyes, with an economic value reaching Rp34 billion.

These findings are the result of BPOM's sampling surveillance of traditional medicine, health supplements, and cosmetics from October 2021 to August 2021.

BPOM Deputy for the Supervision of Traditional Medicines, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics, Reri Indriani, stated that these findings are the result of BPOM's sampling surveillance of traditional medicine, health supplements, and cosmetics from October 2021 to August 2021.

BPOM testing results revealed that 41 items of traditional medicine contained CDIs, and 18 items contained prohibited/hazardous substances.

"The trend of adding CDIs is still dominated by Sildenafil Citrate in traditional medicine products claiming to enhance male stamina. Then, Dexamethasone, Phenylbutazone, and Paracetamol CDIs are found in traditional medicine products for treating aches and pains," said Reri, as reported by Kompas.com on Thursday (6/10/2022).

There were also traditional medicines containing Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine HCL CDIs, claiming to cure and prevent COVID-19.

Reri continued, explaining that the presence of CDIs in traditional medicine poses significant health risks. The addition of Sildenafil Citrate CDI can cause side effects such as vision and hearing loss, chest pain, dizziness, swelling of the mouth, lips, and face, stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Meanwhile, the use of Dexamethasone, Phenylbutazone, and Paracetamol CDIs can cause growth disorders, osteoporosis, hormonal disorders, hepatitis, kidney failure, and liver damage.