A surge in unregistered rat poison cases is putting young children at serious risk, warns the National Poison Centre (NPC).
NPC’s Drug and Poison Information Service UF14 pharmacist Asdariah Misnan noted that over the last three years, more than 40% of rat poison incidents involved illegal or unregistered products. In 2023, 42 of 94 cases involved illegal products; in 2024, 61 of 143; and in 2025, 51 of 118. The situation became more alarming toward the end of 2025, with 35 cases reported between October and December, and 18 of them (51.4%) linked to illegal or unregistered products.
“This is a serious public health threat, especially for children,” Asdariah said. She added that children aged one to four account for roughly 60–70% of reported cases, making them the most vulnerable at home. Alarmingly, about half of the poisonings were accidental, often occurring when bait laced with food was left in accessible, open areas.
The NPC highlighted several unregistered brands that frequently appear in these incidents, including Smell to Death, Morat, Mao Wang, Hai Zhen Wei, Super Rat Killer, Victory, RTV Rat Poison, and Tomrat. Some products were labeled only in Chinese and lacked valid registration numbers. Many of these items are believed to be bought online via e-commerce platforms, while others were obtained from unlicensed vendors at night markets.
Labeling irregularities were also a major concern. In some analyses, the concentration of active ingredients exceeded what the label stated. Even when the substance itself is legal, higher concentrations dramatically raise poisoning risks, even in small amounts. In other cases, tests detected active ingredients different from those listed on labels or websites, including substances more toxic or banned in many countries, such as Tetramethylenedisulfotetetramine (TETS), Sodium monofluoroacetate (SMFA), Fluoroacetamide, and Fluoroacetic acid—substances associated with seizures and fatal outcomes at very low doses.
The July 2024 Kulim, Kedah incident, where two children died after consuming rat poison placed on crackers containing an unregistered toxic substance known to provoke seizures, was cited as a tragic reminder of the danger. The NPC urged urgent action from government agencies to curb the sale of unregistered rat poison and called for stricter enforcement and controls.
NPC Directorates urged e-commerce platforms to ensure only licensed pesticide sellers list products and that each item clearly displays a valid registration number. Under the Pesticides Act 1974, using unregistered pesticides is an offense.
Asdariah emphasized consumer responsibility: verify that any pesticide purchase is registered and properly labeled. The NPC expressed readiness to cooperate and support decisive action from all stakeholders to halt the spread of dangerous products. She closed with a clear message: every poisoning case caused by illegal rat poison is preventable through effective product control, responsible sales practices, and vigilant consumers.
Would you like this rewritten version adjusted to a more formal news style or kept in a conversational but professional tone for a general audience?
