Police and food and drug officials seized unregistered cat feed and medicine worth an estimated one million baht in Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok on Monday.
The unregistered products were found in a building in Plap Pla subdistrict. Authorities confiscated 622 packages, noting some were placed in skincare packs ready for distribution.
A man found to be supervising the building was arrested. Identified only as Saharat, 52, the man said that two years ago a Thai woman hired him to pack the products for sale online. He said that the goods were imported through Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province, adding about 300 packs were sold monthly.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the medicine was advertised at www.basmifipthailand.com under the brand of Basmi FIP Thailand and claimed to cure feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a fatal disease in cats caused by a mutated form of feline coronavirus.
FDA secretary-general Supattra Boonserm said fake and unregistered animal medicine has become rampant. The items are being sold without guarantees on quality or safety. Advertisements for these goods also exaggerate their effectiveness to raise prices.
Ms Supattra warned that falling for such scams could put pets at risk.
