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Alert issued on sexual enhancer, diet pills sold on foreign websites

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So... what about the "domestically" made supplements? Has the "Ministry", done a thorough investigation on them? Too often they beat down "foreign" products without ever investigating those Made in Japan.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

 although no actual damage has been reported so far, it is warning of possible health risks of such products whose quality and safety have not been confirmed by the Japanese authorities 

Lolololololololololoololololololol

Those dastardly foreigners up to no good. Absolutely nothing to do with monopoly and pure greed.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

If they're worried about unsafe supplements, then they should create an avenue to regulated supplements.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said although no actual damage has been reported so far, it is warning of possible health risks of such products whose quality and safety have not been confirmed by the Japanese authorities or, probably, those of the producing countries.

So, in other words, there's actually nothing wrong with them. It's just the Japanese government trying to scare people into using Japanese supplements that do not work.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

So, in other words, there's actually nothing wrong with them.

No, those other words don’t accurately rephrase what is said. To know there is nothing wrong with them, determining your claim would require testing, which the quote you posted shows that they l haven’t done, nor have found tests done by the source countries either. So how can you say there is nothing wrong with them? That’s like saying that if you find a new poisonous insect, it’s not poisonous because no one has checked whether it is or not.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It sounds like a lot of people are answering those spam emails they are getting for cheap Viagra and other ed meds, and this is putting the domestic suppliers in a pinch. So what do you do, claim that these meds from overseas are bad and dangerous. It sounds like the ministry is just trying to protect its turf!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Japan is one country that does not favor allowing it's citizens to self-medicate. This is to keep the large pharmaceuticals companies here in control of the market, and it is also connected to the health insurance schemes, including doctors and hospitals.

Many, very effective, over the counter medicines, that can be purchased overseas, even medicines like "Extra Strength Tylenol, Motrin, and other cold and flu medicines are ILLEGAL for purchase here, and require a doctors prescription

Even power drinks, like Redbull, sold in the states, can not be sold as is, here in Japan, because it would fall into the category of a proscribed medicine, hence it and far too many other, "foreign" produced medical products, are "watered" down and made less effective when sold here.

This is to keep people "safe" according to the Ministry, people cant be trusted to take care of themselves, they need the "mommy-state" to do it for them!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

AGree with all.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Strangerland - So how can you say there is nothing wrong with them?

The article stated there has been no reports of injuries or side effects. That means there are no problems with them. Stop splitting hairs to glorify yourself. You only make yourself look foolish.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Scaremongering against foreign imports? In Japan? Whatever next!

I'd be far more interested in a proper consumer watchdog investigation into the health effects of all those dubious looking domestically produced "supplements" that are endlessly advertised on TV and in the media.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

If I'm going to go down, I'm going down hard.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You guys are all missing the point.

sold on overseas websites for Japanese consumers 

That is the most important phrase of the article and you all missed it. The whole raison d’etre for this kind of site is to subvert the existing laws of a particular country, by selling unregulated drugs, but appearing legitimate.

This isn’t some “gosh darned foreeners” bit. The sites are likely run by Japanese out of Thailand. The issue is about safety and scams.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

As others point out, there is plenty of Japanese-made snake oil for sale in Japan.

Lots of little boys find themselves circumcised for "hygiene" reasons too.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

tadalafil is Cialis , and no it aint about danger but about the 500% markup JP companies make on the product

8 ( +9 / -1 )

It sounds like a lot of people are answering those spam emails they are getting for cheap Viagra and other ed meds, and this is putting the domestic suppliers in a pinch. So what do you do, claim that these meds from overseas are bad and dangerous. It sounds like the ministry is just trying to protect its turf!

Viagra is not OTC (over the counter) in the US and it is not cheap. Some very recent sources I looked at described it as "prohibitively expensive" in the US. Viagra only just became OTC in Britain but it requires a consultation with a pharmacist.

If anything, the Japanese government artificially holds down the price of drugs. It is the US that protects its domestic market with the result that US prices are three or more times world levels. That the Japanese government holds down the price of drugs in Japan has in fact been an issue in US-Japan trade negotiations.

http://theconversation.com/why-the-us-has-higher-drug-prices-than-other-countries-111256

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-u-s-pays-3-times-more-for-drugs/

According to the New York Times, US drug prices average twice those of Canada. Americans import from Canada or make trips to buy drugs there as a consequence.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/upshot/why-prescription-drug-spending-higher-in-the-us.html

Anyone who needs to be told that it is risky to import powerful drugs from unknown foreign sites is playing a dangerous game to begin with.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

A physician friend I consult with occasionally is regularly struck by the differences in prescribed dosages of the same drugs in the US and Japan, not only for ED but across the board. For instance the standard dose here for Viagra is 50mg, when in the US it's 100mg. So people who take the drugs don't receive the full benefits. (He uses the term "sub- therapeutic dosage). It's the pharmaceutical equivalent of near-beer.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A supplement and medicine have the difference.

A supplement is dealt with as a food.

There are no severe examinations like medicine for food.

When the ingredient by which the quality and the safety aren't confirmed by a Japanese authority was found, it'll be reported by a Japanese authority.

The supplement by which a great deal of medical ingredients are included has to be sold as medicine.

A problem is because the goods which are being sold by a false ingredient exist.

example)Diet tea made in China

A laxative was mixed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The article stated there has been no reports of injuries or side effects. That means there are no problems with them.

The comment was not that 'there are no problems with them', the comment was 'there is nothing wrong with them'. But that has not been determined, which is the point I pointed out. You went and shifted the goalposts, then tried to criticize me for not hitting your shifted goalposts.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japans bureacracey is terrified of losing control.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is simply a poorly veiled protectionism scheme. Japan wants to block the successful sales of Viagra or Cialis (or whatever it's called) because it's convenience and drug store sold "men's ginger" or DHC supplements are reported to do absolutely nothing. The funny thing is, I'm sure the government will still allow doctors to prescribe viagra or whatever, but I've heard that if you go do it that way it's $40+ PER pill. They don't worry about the mg count of pharmaceuticals so long as you pay, I guess.

There are probably online sites you can buy from and have shipped, since it is not illegal to do so as long as it's for personal use, but I'm not sure I'd trust anything that pops up, so to speak, on a search for such drugs.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is like the American 'slimming pills' that are sold on a certain auction site for buyers here in the UK. They are unregulated and contain all manner of dodgy and banned substances. I can understand why the Japanese are concerned.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A physician friend I consult with occasionally is regularly struck by the differences in prescribed

 dosages of the same drugs in the US and Japan, not only for ED but across the board.

That's proper.

The amount as which influence of medicine is seen is different in the average physique.

When studying pharmacy, it's common sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Coffee, tabacco and alcohol are legally sold but have bad effects on health. But they are legal.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't understand why people need to buy Sexual health items... I think human-beings have managed until now well enough without them, so perhaps they're just yet another Scam ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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