The Ministry of Health has warned citizens not to use cosmetic products sold online that do not have a registration number issued by the ministry.

These products include La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dry Touch and La Roche-Posay CAMBO. The sale and distribution of these products must cease immediately, according to the October 18 press release.

“The ministry will take legal action against the La Roche-Posay social media accounts and all those involved in distributing, promoting and selling the product,” it added.

Dr. Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that skin care products can be imported, or produced locally.

“Some of the unregistered products are simply a mix of skin whitening products and normal lotion. Because they have not been tested and approved by the health ministry, their quality is unproven, and they may be dangerous to the user,” he said.

He said that such products’ side effects may include cosmetic skin damage, or even skin cancer, which is potentially fatal.

Sambath added that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for managing online businesses and combating illegal products. This meant they could be relied upon to ensure the quality of all approved goods.

Reached for comment on October 17, Phan Oun, director general of the Ministry of Commerce’s Consume Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression directorate-general (CCF), said that he was in a meeting.