Discovering raw materials and ingredients subject to block entry into Korea from some overseas direct purchase products in an effort to treat hair loss and expand the chest
Mar 11, 2025
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The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it conducted a planned inspection of 30 products of consumer interest among overseas direct food products sold at domestic and foreign online shopping malls and found that 16 products had been blocked from bringing them into Korea.
▲'Hair loss treatment' products claiming efficacy and effectiveness (20 cases) ▲'chest enlargement' products claiming efficacy and effectiveness (10 cases) suspected of using harmful ingredients were selected for the test. The inspection items were selected and applied to 31 types, including hair growth or female hormone-related components, and it was also checked whether the product was marked with materials and ingredients subject to block entry into Korea.
As a result of the test, raw materials and ingredients subject to block entry into Korea, such as over-the-counter drug ingredients, were identified in ▲'Hair loss treatment' products (11) that claimed efficacy and effectiveness ▲'chest enlargement'Efficacy and effectiveness (5).
It has been identified that 'Pava (PABA)', a pharmaceutical ingredient mainly used to prevent hair loss, and 'Black Kohosh', a pharmaceutical ingredient used to alleviate women's menopausal symptoms. 'PABA' can cause skin irritation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dizziness, eye irritation, fever, liver failure, vomiting, rash, shortness of breath, and coma, and serious side effects such as liver, kidney, and blood disorders during excessive intake. 'Black Kohosh' may cause headaches, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, bleeding, and dizziness when misused, and in severe cases may cause side effects such as liver disease, non-stop nausea, loss of appetite, abnormal fatigue, stomach pain, pale stool, and thick urine.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety collaborated with related agencies to prevent them from being brought into Korea and sold by requesting the Korea Customs Service to hold customs clearance and the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block access to online sales sites. In addition, product information (including photos) was posted on the Food Safety Country website "Overseas Direct Food Properly" that provides overseas direct food safety information so that consumers can check the products themselves.
According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, "Foreign direct food purchased by individuals for self-consumption purposes may cause damage due to harmful ingredients."Consumers must first check whether the product contains ▲ ingredients subject to blocking of imports into Korea on the 'Overseas Direct Purchase Food Properly' website for smart overseas direct purchase, ▲ Products registered in overseas direct purchase hazardous foods must not be purchased, and ▲ must not be sold to third parties or used for business purposes."," he said.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
