In a statement, the Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, noting that such products may be sold online, at gyms, beauty salons, hair salons, and other unauthorized locations.
According to the Pharmaceutical Services, these include, among others, products marketed with claims regarding weight loss, anti-aging, muscle growth or recovery, improvement of physical appearance, wellness, and general “improvement” of health, including various peptides, hormone analogs, and other pharmacologically active substances, in injectable, oral, or other forms.
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The Food and Drug Administration emphasizes that a product does not automatically become legal or safe simply because it is presented or advertised, among other things, as a “dietary supplement,” “natural product,” or “for laboratory research only.”
“The use of such claims and labels on products intended for human use is misleading and does not exempt them from compliance with applicable pharmaceutical legislation,” the announcement notes.
It also emphasizes that “injectable and intravenous products are of particular concern, as their administration bypasses important natural defense mechanisms of the body, and when these products are not manufactured, stored and distributed in accordance with established pharmaceutical standards, they may be associated with contamination, the presence of unknown or incorrect active ingredients, incorrect concentration or dosage, toxicity, infections, and serious adverse effects.”
At the same time, as noted, European medicines authorities have also warned that illegal medicines sold online may not contain any of the active ingredient listed on the label orand may contain harmful substances, resulting in treatment failure, unpredictable and serious health consequences, and dangerous interactions with other medications.
The Pharmaceutical Services emphasize that pharmaceutical products must come exclusively from legal and regulated sources and, where required, be dispensed by prescription and through licensed pharmacies.
“Only through the established regulatory system can the required quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines be ensured. The circulation and distribution of unlicensed/unapproved pharmaceutical products in Cyprus constitutes a violation of current legislation and is subject to the penalties provided for therein,” the announcement states.
The public is urged, as emphasized in the announcement, not to purchase or use pharmaceutical products from the internet or from unauthorized individuals or establishments, even when they are presented as “innovative”, “natural,” “safe,” “side-effect-free,” or “for research use only.”
The Pharmaceutical Services “urge citizens, as always, to consult their doctor or pharmacist before using any medications and to obtain them exclusively from legitimate and regulated sources, such as pharmacies.”
“The protection of public health is a non-negotiable priority for the Ministry of Health. The use of unlicensed/unapproved pharmaceutical products, especially when administered by injection or intravenously, is not a safe option and poses a serious risk to health,” the statement concludes.
Source: CNA
