The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered online shopping platforms Shopee and Lazada to stop selling medicines online.
The agency said its Regulatory Enforcement Unit served on Shopee Philippines and Lazada Philippines a Summons with Preventive Measure Order (SPMO), directing both companies to immediately cease and desist from further offering medicines online until it has secured a License to Operate from the FDA.
In a statement, the DFA said Shopee and Lazada may be cited for direct or indirect contempt and/or meted administrative sanctions.
"The FDA is adamant in implementing the law in order to ensure the safety of the Filipino people and the general public as a whole. The continuous online selling of any of these drug products will place the lives of the general public in danger and at risk," the agency stated.
The agency issued on June 11 Advisory No. 2019-154, which warned the public about the significant risks associated with medicines sold online.
FDA said the public should exercise extreme caution and avoid purchasing or consuming health products offered for sale online.
Continuous unauthorized sale or distribution of drug products may be reported to the FDA via email at report@fda.gov.ph or online reporting facility eREPORT at www.fda.gov.ph/ereport. (Ventures Cebu)
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