Vets Warn About Fake Pet Supplements, Medicines Sold Online

The spokesman added that cross-border imports into Singapore are illegal even if the products have import stickers from other countries, as they were not imported by importers authorised to do so by the Animal Veterinary Service (AVS).

Under the regulations, pet food containing meat or meat products can only be brought into Singapore from sources approved by AVS.

Every consignment of pet food imported into Singapore must be accompanied by an import permit issued by AVS and supporting documentation, such as a health certificate issued by the relevant authority of the exporting country.

In response to ST’s inquiries, AVS said it had received two cases of feedback on potentially counterfeit pet food in 2024. Both purchasers purchased pet food from private sellers on e-commerce platforms rather than from local authorised distributors.

“The AVS will investigate and take action against sellers who import pet food containing meat or meat products without an import permit under the Animals and Birds Act,” it said. Anyone found guilty of such an act could face a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.

AVS also works with e-commerce platforms to remove pet food listings that are not supplied by local authorized distributors.

In response to ST’s inquiries, Shopee said the sale of counterfeits on its platform is prohibited and sellers are required to comply with local laws and policies on prohibited items.

“When we identify listings that violate local laws or our platform policies, we take immediate action by notifying sellers, removing listings, and/or blocking sellers if necessary,” a Shopee spokesperson said.

“We also encourage our users to report any counterfeit products using the ‘Report this Product’ option. Users can also chat with our live agents via the Shopee app or send us an email via the Help Centre.”

What should pet owners pay attention to?

As a precaution, pet owners should only purchase products from authorized suppliers and/or retailers, said all importers and veterinary clinics ST spoke to.

Dr Christopher Tham of Jireh Veterinary Clinic said: “Generally speaking, buyers need to know that all veterinary clinics in Singapore purchase medicines directly from local suppliers and sometimes import medicines from Australian veterinary pharmacies.

“Customers bring us counterfeits to see if they can use them. Very often, after comparing the products (packaging, tablets and labels), we are able to find differences that distinguish them from the originals.”

Veterinarians recommend that people who are concerned about cost discuss their budget and needs with their veterinarians, who can suggest alternative treatment options or refer them to reputable suppliers if they decide not to purchase products directly from the clinic.

AVS strongly encourages pet owners to check the authenticity of pet food before purchasing and to seek advice from brand owners on how to distinguish genuine products from counterfeits.