In a statement last night, the ministry said the security label system continued to be a key component of the regulatory framework under the Drug Control Authority, alongside product registration, licensing, and supply chain audits.

It also said that the MyUBAT mobile application had been upgraded to serve as a single platform for verifying the authenticity of product safety labels.

“The application is now capable of scanning all versions of health ministry hologram labels, both past and current.

“Product authenticity can also be verified at licensed pharmacy premises equipped with ministry-approved verification tools,” it said.

The ministry was responding to a media report raising concerns over the proliferation of unregistered health products and claims that the hologram verification mechanism was not functioning.

FMT yesterday quoted a global traceability expert in a report as saying that stronger authentication and track-and-trace systems were needed in Malaysia, as counterfeit medicines were increasingly sold online.

The ministry said the country’s health product safety ecosystem remained robust and under control.

“The health ministry will not compromise and will take firm enforcement action against any party involved in distributing unregistered products or falsifying safety labels,” it said.

The hologram system was introduced as Meditag in 2005 and rebranded as FarmaTag in September 2019. It was made mandatory for all pharmaceutical products beginning Oct 2, 2025.