Beware: Buying illegal rapid COVID-19 testing products online will receive a maximum fine of 2 million

Taiwanese government extended the national level 3 alert until June 14 as domestic infection cases continue to rise. More and more rapid screening stations are set up across Taiwan. Rapid COVID-19 testing products are even sold online illegally.   

According to TAIPEI TIMES, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said testing kits are classified as medical equipment and therefore can only be sold by certified vendors and pharmacies, FDA Medical Devices and Cosmetics Division specialist Lin Hsin-hui (林欣慧) said.

Currently, there are no permitted “distance” channels to buy medical equipment, such as through the Internet, telemarketing, Line, Instagram or other social media platforms, Lin added.

If citizens initiate group purchases on their own or through social platforms such as Facebook, they will be fined up to 2 million.

Beware: Buying illegal rapid COVID-19 testing products online will receive a maximum fine of 2 million. Image courtesy of FDA.

TAIPEI TIMES mentions, online influencers and retailers are not certified vendors, she said, adding that perpetrators could be consecutively fined NT$30,000 to NT$1 million (US$1,073 to US$35,778) in accordance with the Medical Devices Act (醫療器材管理法).

For example, an unlicensed vendor who is fined the maximum NT$1 million could be fined another NT$1 million for contraventions of distance sale regulations, Lin said.

The FDA is still gathering evidence and has not yet issued any fines, she said, urging the public to contact the agency or local health bureaus with any relevant information.

Beware: Buying illegal rapid COVID-19 testing products online will receive a maximum fine of 2 million. Image courtesy of Rti.

TAIPEI TIMES adds, while buying rapid testing kits from licensed vendors is not illegal, Lin advised against businesses purchasing them to test their employees, as the safety and accuracy of self-administered tests cannot be guaranteed.