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Sunday, 13 July 2025

BE LABEL-SAVVY TO STAY HEALTHY for organic food among health-conscious consumers

PETALING JAYA: The multi-billion-ringgit global organic food and beverage market is expected to grow more by 2030, according to market research firm Grand View Research.

For Malaysia, there is a growing appetite for organic food among health-conscious consumers.

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But how do people know whether the “organic” foodstuff they buy are truly organic?

An important source is the myOrganic sticker that is usually found on the packaging of organic foodstuff sold at shops.

The myOrganic certification scheme is used to promote, implement and facilitate the adoption of organic agriculture, explains Agriculture Department (DOA) director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi.

“This certification scheme covers various organic activities, including fresh produce farming, beekeeping, the breeding of organic plant varieties and wild harvesting.

ALSO READ: Verifying food markers not quite an organic process

“The Malaysian Organic Certification Scheme is now known as myOrganic,” she said in in a statement to The Star.

To safeguard the authenticity of certified organic products, the regulation of organic items is primarily governed under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, overseen by the Health Ministry, she added.

The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has also registered the myOrganic certification logo with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) as a legitimate trademark.

“If the DOA receives complaints about the misuse of this logo, the matter will be referred to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry for further investigation.

“In cases where fraud is confirmed, the offending company may be prosecuted under the Trademarks Act 2019,” she said.

Upon conviction, offenders may face a fine of up to RM10,000 per item bearing the misused trademark, imprisonment of up to three years or both.

ALSO READ: How bugs help you spot organic durians

Nor Sam said the department has issued guidelines to certificate holders outlining the terms and conditions for the use of the myOrganic logo.

“However, we also rely on the cooperation of consumers to address the risks of fraud and logo misuse by lodging complaints where appropriate.

“Matters related to processing, repackaging or importation of organic products fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry,” she said.

To create awareness, the department is actively carrying out promotional activities targeting consumers through physical events and social media platforms, as well as by engaging with local organic associations.

“These initiatives focus on promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), highlighting the importance of recognising the myOrganic logo, encouraging the purchase of certified farm produce.

“Additionally, consumers can verify the validity of organic certification by visiting the DOA website at www.doa.gov.my under the list of certified recipients,” she said.

Dr Juju Nakasha Jaafar, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture at Universiti Putra Malaysia, said there has been confusion on the authenticity of organic products.

“For example, a seller might claim he is selling pesticide-free or chemical-free vegetables, which gives consumers the impression that the products are organic.

“In reality, these vegetables may be free from chemical pesticides but are still grown using chemical fertilisers and thus do not qualify as organic,” she said.

“For vegetables to be certified as organic, all input must be completely natural.

“This includes compost fertilisers, organic pesticides and non-genetically modified organism seeds.”

These are outlined in the myOrganic certification guidelines.

“Consumers can look for the myOrganic logo on vegetable products to ensure they are truly organic.

“The DOA strictly regulates this certification,” she said, adding that more details can be found on the DOA website.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) secretary-general Dr Saravanan Thambirajah said traders must verify the certification documents provided by suppliers before selling or labelling any product as organic.

“They should only use the term ‘organic’ when backed by certification,” he said.

Saravanan said consumers should look for official certification logos on packaging and not rely solely on general claims like ‘natural’.

“If you suspect a product is being falsely marketed as organic, you should report it to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry or lodge a complaint with Fomca,” he added.--

By KHOO GEK SAN, DIVYA THERESA RAVI and RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/07/12/be-label-savvy-to-stay-healthy

Friday, 23 May 2025

Health Ministry cracks down on fake meds

PETALING JAYA: Over 6,000 units of unregistered supplements worth RM16mil have been confiscated in the past five years, but fake medicines are still freely available in the market.

The Health Ministry is now intensifying efforts to crack down on such counterfeit medicines, telling consumers to exercise caution when purchasing medicines or supplements online.

“These fake health products are often sold by irresponsible individuals who are more interested in profit than public safety,” its Pharmacy Enforcement Division told The Star.

The Star had reported on Saturday that supplements were being sold online with fake holograms and questionable content.

Counterfeit supplements often do not contain the correct active ingredients while some may contain too much, too little or none at all – and could be ineffective in treating a condition or make it worse.

“Many also contain dangerous or toxic substances. Additionally, these products are often manufactured in unsanitary environments, raising the risk of contamination,” it said.

To safeguard public health, the division is intensifying efforts to monitor websites, social media platforms and online marketplaces to detect and investigate the sale of counterfeit products.

“Any identified links or listings will be subject to legal action,” it said.

The division is also working closely with major e-commerce and social media platforms to ensure fake listings are swiftly removed and repeat offenders are dealt with accordingly so items are taken off the market quickly.

In Malaysia, all pharmaceutical products and health supplements must be registered with the ministry’s Drug Control Authority and need a valid registration number, which begins with MAL followed by a number. These packages will also have a security hologram on the packaging.

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“Since 2005, the use of security holograms has played an important role in safeguarding consumers from counterfeit products.

“In 2019, the ministry introduced the FarmaTag hologram to enhance and modernise the existing system. FarmaTag allows consumers and enforcement authorities to verify the authenticity of registered products,” it said.

Although counterfeiters have attempted to imitate the hologram, genuine products can still be identified by examining the unique security elements embedded in the FarmaTag label.

The ministry also encouraged consumers to scan the hologram using the FarmaChecker mobile application upon receiving the product, and is also organising public education initiatives to raise awareness.

“One key initiative is the Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah (TOBaTS) campaign, a nationwide effort to educate the public about the dangers of using unregistered and counterfeit medicines,” the division said.

It also advised consumers to buy their medicines and supplements from reputable sources such as licensed pharmacies or verified platforms, and to be wary of heavily discounted products online as these are often counterfeits.

“Fake supplements can cause serious health complications, especially when consumed without proper medical supervision,” it said.

Genuine products should always come in sealed original manufacturer packaging, it said.

“If possible, compare the product with previous purchases. Any noticeable changes in pill size, shape, colour, taste or markings should raise suspicion,” it noted.

“Be cautious of tablets or capsules that appear cracked, powdery or unusually coated with excess powder or crystals.”

Buyers can report sellers of counterfeits, especially those operating through online channels, to the division.

“Consumers should also be on guard against unsolicited offers, particularly through spam emails or flashy advertisements on social media platforms. These are common tactics used by counterfeit product sellers to lure unsuspecting buyers with ‘too-good-to-be true’ deals,” the division said.

Consumers can also visit the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency’s website at http://npra.moh.gov.my to verify the registration status of any health products. Counterfeit products can also be reported through the Public Agency Complaints Management System (SisPAA).

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Ministry of Health vows unyielding crackdown on counterfeit medical product

Friday, 9 May 2025

‘Specialists needed in all areas’

Stakeholders say key obstacles remain in increasing numbers in the country

More needed: As of last year, about 8,000 specialists were employed by the Health Ministry. Stakeholders, however, say there is an urgent need to increase that number especially in fields like cardiothoracic surgery and emergency medicine. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The persistent shortage of medical specialists in the country needs to be urgently addressed, say stakeholders.

With the Health Ministry’s target of 28,000 specialists by 2030 looking increasingly unattainable, they say there is a need to increase the number, especially in fields such as cardiothoracic surgery and emergency medicine.

ALSO READ: Increase training capacity to resolve shortage, say experts

As it stands, there are about 9,000 specialists serving in the Health Ministry.

President of the College of Emergency Physicians at the Academy of Medicine Datuk Dr Alzamani Mohammad Idrose voiced concern over the lack of emergency physicians (EP) in the country.

He said Malaysia falls short of international benchmarks, having only one EP per 50,000 people, compared to the global standard of one per 20,000.

“The ideal EP-to-patient ratio in emergency departments is 1:3,000, as seen in developed countries like Australia and Canada. Singapore maintains a ratio of 1:2,500, whereas Malaysia’s stands at 1:5,000,” he added.

In March, the College of Emergency Physicians, in a statement, emphasised the critical role EPs play in healthcare systems, noting their expertise in addressing emergency medical issues across all disciplines.

“EPs are not only clinicians but also leaders, educators and advocates who strive to improve patient outcomes and strengthen health systems globally,” the college said.

The statement also outlined the roles played by EPs, such as managing emergencies from various disciplines, including heart attack, stroke, diabetic ketoacidosis and renal failure, as well as ensuring systematic triage for critical, semi-critical and non-critical cases.

The statement added that certain EPs develop subspecialities through additional training in areas like Emergency Critical Care, Trauma, Pre-hospital Care, Disaster Medicine, Toxicology and Paediatrics Emergency Medicine.

To increase the number of specialists, including EPs, Dr Alzamani suggested extending local specialisation programmes to more public universities beyond the current four: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery honorary secretary Prof Dr John Chan Kok Meng said there is a need to increase specialists in all areas.

“While those addressing life-saving conditions are crucial, specialists who manage risk factors for severe conditions are equally important,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Based on the association’s workforce planning and projections for cardiothoracic surgery, Chan said more than 40 additional cardiothoracic surgeons are needed in the next five years.

“Our projections indicate we can meet the necessary number of cardiothoracic surgeons to manage existing centres by 2027. However, additional specialists will be needed if the number of centres increases,” he added.

However, he noted some key obstacles in specialist training.

The 14 newly-qualified cardiothoracic surgeons from 2022-2024 are yet to be registered as specialists by the Malaysian Medical Council, pending the enforcement of the amended Medical Act 1971, which Parliament passed last year.

Dr Chan also noted the limitations in training new surgeons.

“An experienced cardiothoracic surgeon can train only one or two doctors at a time. This involves imparting technical surgical skills, supervising surgeries and transferring clinical knowledge and judgment,” he said.

The Health Ministry had, last month, announced several initiatives to address the shortfall of specialists, including the restructuring of medical officer positions and creating a parallel pathway programme.

Another discipline where a shortage of specialists has been reported is the field of oncology, where ministry data showed there were only about 175 cancer specialists in the country.

Severe shortage of specialists have also been reported in the fields of forensic pathology, family medicine, urology, general surgery, paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery and psychiatry among others.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni had said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s approval to add 800 specialists annually since 2023 could help meet the demand for medical specialists.

“At the same time, we have also amended the Medicines Act 1971 by creating a parallel pathway programme to create more specialists through this alternative route.

“Currently, we have around 692 specialists using the parallel pathway and also 6,211 medical officers undergoing specialist training,” said Lukanisman.