Fake Botulinum Spreading in China... Hugel Conducts 'Authenticity Verification Campaign'

Ji Seung-wook, Head of Hugel China Corporation (center), and Ya Juwemeng, Director of Chongqing Dangdai Medical Aesthetic Hospital (second from left), along with other officials, are taking a commemorative photo after the launch ceremony of the Retibo genuine product certification campaign. (Photo by Hugel)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Hugel, a medical aesthetic specialist company, announced on the 4th that it has successfully completed the genuine product authentication campaign for its botulinum toxin (BTX) product 'Botulax' (export name Retivo) in China.

This campaign was conducted by Hugel's Chinese subsidiary Hugel Shanghai Esthetics in collaboration with its Chinese distribution partner Sahuan Pharmaceutical and the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics, targeting 20 major cities in China including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou since August last year.

Jiseungwook, head of Hugel's China subsidiary, Mingjian, head of sales and medical department at Sahuan Pharmaceutical, and Jingxian, secretary general of the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics, personally visited 40 local medical institutions including representative Chinese chain hospitals such as Yestar and Meilai to encourage the use of genuine products and awarded pilot institution plaques for genuine product authentication. To strengthen consumer awareness of genuine product use, online education covering Retivo's key features and authentication methods was also conducted.

China is recognized as the third largest BTX market after the US and Europe, attracting attention as the fastest growing market due to its large population and high interest in beauty. However, as counterfeit and illegally imported products have become frequent recently, the Chinese government announced the 'Measures to Eradicate Illegal Activities in the Medical and Beauty Industry' jointly by eight departments including the National Health Commission in June 2021, promoting the '3 Regularizations' campaign which emphasizes the standardization of medical cosmetic institutions, specialization of medical personnel, and legalization of products.

Hugel was the first domestic BTX company to enter China and has participated in the Chinese government's strengthened medical and beauty management and supervision policies. Following the 'Year of Medical and Beauty Safety: Meeting on Eradication and Management of Illegal Medical and Beauty Practices' co-hosted by the China Association of Plastics and Aesthetics and Weibo in October 2021, Hugel actively engaged as a key panelist at the 'National Two Sessions Healthy Chinese Roundtable' hosted by the Chinese state media People's Daily in March last year to establish standardized medical and beauty practices in China. Notably, in September last year, Jiseungwook conducted an interview with People's Daily on 'Promoting Standardization in the Medical Beauty Industry,' emphasizing Retivo's excellent quality and market competitiveness.

A Hugel official stated, “We are participating in the healthy development of the local medical and beauty industry,” and added, “We will continue to convey the importance and value of genuine product use and strive to widely promote the excellence of Korean BTX in the Chinese market.”