'Storage of Herbal Medicine Past 5-Year Expiry'... Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Detect 32 Illegal Cases of Herbal Medicine and Medical Devices

Cases of Illegal Activities Detected in the Distribution Management of Hanyang and Medical Devices

Gyeonggi Province has cracked down on herbal medicine businesses storing expired herbal ingredients and medical device sellers who falsely advertised effects and benefits different from the approved purposes of the medical devices.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 23rd that from October 23 to November 3, they inspected 360 herbal medicine businesses and medical device sellers within the province and found 32 locations (37 cases) violating the 'Pharmaceutical Affairs Act' and the 'Medical Device Act.'

Among the major violations, an external herbal decoction facility A located in Yongin City was caught storing four types of non-standard products including Cheongho and three types of herbal ingredients including Maechung that had expired by one year in the herbal medicine room for sales purposes, instead of standardized herbal ingredients.

At herbal pharmacy B in Uijeongbu City, 44 types of herbal ingredients including Hojanggeun that had expired five years ago were displayed for sales purposes, and herbal pharmacy C in Dongducheon City was also caught storing 32 types of expired herbal ingredients including Choooje for sales purposes during this crackdown.

Herbal medicine wholesaler D in Anyang City was caught operating the business without a qualified business manager such as a herbal pharmacist for three years after the wholesale business manager resigned. Additionally, medical device experience center E in Icheon City was found to have falsely and exaggeratedly advertised medical devices approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for 'muscle pain relief' as having effects such as 'improving blood circulation, enhancing skin elasticity, and managing female diseases.'

Under the current 'Pharmaceutical Affairs Act,' selling or storing and displaying expired pharmaceuticals for sales purposes is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW. If a pharmaceutical wholesaler fails to appoint a qualified business manager, they face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW. Furthermore, the 'Medical Device Act' imposes imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW for false or exaggerated advertising of the performance or efficacy of medical devices.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, emphasized, "Illegal activities involving herbal medicines and medical devices can harm the health of residents, so businesses caught will be strictly punished according to relevant regulations," and added, "We will do our best to ensure the safety of residents through continuous crackdowns."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.