Despite being unauthorised, several weight loss products are still being sold in the country. The use of social media platforms for marketing these products is making it challenging for the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority to monitor. Although there is no official record, the authority has seized weight loss products and imposed fines on a few individuals selling such products. The authority has not issued any license to sell weight loss products considering the long-term health risks.
Consuming unauthorised health supplements, especially those being sold as weight loss products, could be doing your body more harm than good.
Tenzin Wangchuk, the Head of Nutrition and Diet Services at the national referral hospital says there is an increasing trend of people using supplements without the advice of registered dieticians and healthcare professionals.
“There is an increasing number of Bhutanese turning to supplements recommended by influencers, especially among young adults and urban dwellers. However, many of these products are imported, and their quality varies. Some supplements may contain harmful additives, unverified ingredients, or incorrect dosages, potentially leading to side effects like digestive issues, liver toxicity, or hormonal imbalances”
Weight loss products such as Baschi Quick Slimming Capsule and Vitaccino Black in capsule forms and Rady Coffee Plus Detoxer marketed as a caffeine product are available in the country through unauthorised dealers.
Jigme Tenzin, the Chief Regulatory Officer with the BFDA’s Medical Product Division, says these products are banned by the US Food and Drug Authority as well as by other drug regulatory authorities worldwide as the products contain sibutramine, a substance known to cause increased blood pressure and heart rate leading to heart-related complications.
The authority encountered a few samples of such products in the market which they seized and fined the dealers towards the end of last year.
“We did not receive complaints specifically in weight-loss but we did encounter a few supplements in the market specifically containing the sibutramine compound which was banned by the US FDA and others as well.”
According to the BFDA, individuals dealing in health supplements and weight loss products should obtain authorisation and register the products with the authority as per the provisions under the Medicines Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2003 and the Bhutan Medicines Rules and Regulation 2019.
The Chief Regulatory Officer said “We do have a number of health supplements which are listed with the authority, but regarding the weight-loss supplements we do not have any authorised dealers as of now in the country.”
He added that unlicensed dealers will have to pay penalties as per section 29 (a) of the Act according to which any individual involved in the sale of unauthorised health supplements shall be punishable with the seizure of the goods and a fine equivalent to the total value of the goods.
According to the authority, although they regularly monitor health supplements and investigate, tracking online sales is a challenge.
Jigme Tenzin, the Chief Regulatory Officer said “It’s a challenging platform where social media has been used as one of the marketing platforms and this is one of the challenges where we are unable to reach.
The authority also has a reporting system for the public but it is not being used, likely because people are unaware of it or of the potential side effects of weight loss products.
He said “We are not sure of what may be the reason behind it but the assumption is that could be consumer may not be aware of complain system or maybe the impact of health supplements.
Even globally, there is a growing trend among consumers resorting to dietary supplements being promoted for weight loss. With drug regulators worldwide facing difficulties in testing and identifying such products which may have potentially hidden harmful ingredients, it is only wiser as consumers to exercise caution before buying or consuming such products.
Intern (Pema Gyelmo)
Edited by Phub Gyem
