THE Ministry of Health will take legal action against Facebook user Eva Cambodia after the user advertised the sale of chloramine B as a disinfectant against the novel coronavirus.

The ministry said the chemical compound was not registered or recognised by the ministry or any competent body as a disinfectant for the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the ministry issued a press release prohibiting advertisements of “chloramine B that had no registration number or recognition from the Ministry of Health”.

It informed the public that the Facebook user was advertising the sale of chloramine B and even claimed that it could be used as a disinfectant against the coronavirus.

In compliance with the Law on Drug Control and amendments to it, all medical products were to be registered at the ministry while imports of the same must also be approved by it.

The advertisement of quality medicine and products to prevent or treat diseases must also be approved by the ministry so that it can verify the claims in a scientific manner.

“The ministry informs the public that chloramine B as advertised by Facebook user Eva Cambodia cannot be guaranteed in terms of quality and safety. No qualified body has recognised the chemical compound as a disinfectant for the coronavirus,” it said.

The ministry warned the Facebook user to immediately cease such advertisements and the import and distribution of the product without it being registered.

The ministry said: “We will collaborate with other competent bodies to take strict legal action against Facebook user Eva Cambodia who advertised the sales for chloramine B without a registration number and recognition from the ministry.”

On March 17, Eva Cambodia whose his address #128, St 430 in the Phnom Penh Tuol Tompoung commune on advertised the sale of chloramine B on social media. The user said: “Chloramine B that is used to disinfect the coronavirus is worth $15,000 per tonne.”

Ministry of Interior Anti-Economic Crime Department deputy director Long Sreng said on Wednesday that specialists are investigating the Facebook user as the advertisement has misled the people.

“Facebook user Eva Cambodia advertised that chloramine B had disinfected the Covid-19 virus and this is misleading. We are investigating the case with care.

“We deployed three of four teams to monitor the case. Besides this target, we also have other targets for counterfeit alcohol sellers,” he said.

Opportunists have been exploiting fears of Covid-19 to sell various products. In March, the Anti-Economic Crime Department required Lim Huy to sign a contract agreeing to stop the illegal import and distribution of more than 4,000 litres of fake alcohol.