The Ministry of Health banned the sale or distribution of two products, Philter (Black Rose) – a product alleged to increase sexual desire – and a soap that claimed to have powerful “whitening” properties, because neither product has notification numbers or recognition from the ministry.

In an April 19 notice, the ministry said a Facebook account named “Nail Shop” was advertising the product Philter for sale. The product was not registered or recognised by the ministry, and appeared to be making claims in its advertising that were without any scientific basis.

The ministry had requested that all authorities offer their cooperation in searching for the administrator of the Facebook account and bringing them to justice. Non-registered medicinal products ran the risk of causing serious harm to people, it said.

The ministry urged the public to stop buying the Philter product as its chemical composition was unknown, meaning there was no way of knowing how badly it could affect a person’s health, or even if it its side effects could be fatal.

The ministry also banned the distribution or sale of a particular soap, as it was also an unregistered chemical product. This soap was being distributed by the Phnom Trong Cosmetic Import Export (Cambodia) Co Ltd. It contained mercurial chemicals in excess of the levels set as safe, which meant it could pose a serious risk to both the skin condition and health of consumers.

The ministry added that under the Kingdom’s strict pharmaceutical laws, cosmetic products of all kinds were required to have been inspected – and approved with notification numbers – by the ministry.

It called on consumers to check products for this assurance of safety.

The notice said the ministry would continue to monitor any products that were on the market and would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found to be breaching the law.

A health ministry official, speaking to The Post on condition of anonymity, said such products posed serious health risks to consumers and warranted immediate action.

“We have enforced the necessary regulations and detained and fined perpetrators of these crimes in many, many cases,” he said.