Over the past time, some press agencies have reflected the situation of organizations and individuals taking advantage of social networks, e-commerce platforms and online platforms to advertise and trade weight loss products in the form of injection pens of unknown origin, showing signs of circumventing the censorship mechanism of the platform to reach consumers, potentially affecting public health.
To promptly inspect, verify, prevent and handle violations, protect the rights and health of consumers, on August 5, 2026, the Hanoi Department of Health issued an official dispatch on inspecting and verifying reflections on weight loss products in the form of injectable pens.
According to Official Dispatch No. 7939/SYT-KTLVYT of the Hanoi Department of Health, the Hanoi Department of Health requests agencies and units to coordinate in implementing as follows:
1. For Hanoi City Police
- Direct functional units to review and verify organizations and individuals showing signs of taking advantage of cyberspace, social networks, and e-commerce platforms to advertise and trade weight loss products in the form of injection pens of unknown origin, fake goods, smuggled goods or products showing signs of legal violations.
- In case of detecting products under the scope of specialized medical management or showing signs of violating regulations on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, it is requested to exchange, provide information and coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Health for inspection, verification, and handling according to regulations.
2. For the Department of Industry and Trade
- Direct the Market Management Sub-Department to preside over the inspection, coordinate with relevant agencies and units to organize inspections of organizations and individuals advertising and trading weight loss products in the form of injection pens according to the content reflected in the press and information collected through local management.
- Focus on inspecting and handling acts of trading in goods of unclear origin; counterfeit goods; smuggled goods; goods without invoices and documents proving legal origin; goods that do not meet circulation conditions; violations of goods labels, e-commerce, consumer rights protection and other violations in commercial activities and inform the Department of Health of the results for coordination in management and handling.
3. For the People's Committees of communes and wards in Hanoi City
- Direct specialized departments and functional forces in localities to strengthen state management in the area; review and grasp the situation of organizations and individuals with business and advertising activities of weight loss products, especially establishments showing signs of trading products of unknown origin or advertising and selling goods through social networks and e-commerce platforms.
- Focus on reviewing pharmaceutical business establishments, medical examination and treatment facilities, beauty and health care facilities, spas, online business establishments, warehouses, goods gathering and delivery locations and organizations and individuals doing business through social networks, e-commerce platforms with addresses or actual activities in the area.
- When detecting organizations and individuals showing signs of trading in goods of unknown origin, counterfeit goods, smuggled goods, goods not ensuring quality or showing signs of other legal violations, proactively coordinate with the Market Management Sub-Department, the Police and functional agencies to organize inspection, verification, and handling according to their authority; in cases beyond their authority, promptly report to competent authorities for handling.
- At the same time, strengthen propaganda and warn people about the risk of using weight loss products of unknown origin, products that have not been licensed for circulation by competent authorities; mobilize organizations and individuals in the area to strictly comply with the provisions of law in business activities.
It is requested that agencies and units pay attention to coordinating implementation; promptly inform the Department of Health about products under the management scope of specialized medicine to coordinate inspection and handling according to regulations.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper had a series of articles reflecting on the situation of weight loss pens of unknown origin being sold rampant on social networks. In the role of customers who need to buy products, reporters recorded many sellers using tricks to circumvent censorship to advertise, arrange direct transactions and distribute pens without Vietnamese sub-labels, and cannot present invoices and documents proving their origin.
Notably, some facilities still accept on-site weight loss injections in conditions that do not meet professional and hygiene requirements, posing many risks to users' health.
