Brazil’s health regulator has prohibited the sale, distribution and use of falsified Accu-Chek Active glucose strips, warning that they could produce unreliable readings for people managing diabetes.
Brazil’s health regulator has banned the sale of counterfeit Accu-Chek Active blood glucose test strips offered on Amazon, in a case that adds to a wider pattern of enforcement against falsified medical products circulating online. According to Anvisa, the ban covers sale, distribution, importation and use of the fake strips, after Roche Diabetes Care Brasil identified differences between the listings and the genuine product.
The agency said the affected items were being sold without the original outer packaging and carried the phrase “ONLY FOR GOVERNMENT TENDER”, suggesting they were meant solely for public procurement rather than retail sale. The two listings named by Anvisa were “Tiras Accu-Chek Active C/50”, a 50-strip pack, and “Kit Tiras Medidor Glicemia Accu-Check Active 100 Unidades”, a 100-strip kit.
Anvisa stressed that the order applies only to the counterfeit items identified in those advertisements and does not amount to a blanket ban on Accu-Chek products. The distinction matters for patients who rely on glucose monitoring, since counterfeit strips can undermine readings used to guide diabetes treatment decisions.
The latest action fits a broader regulatory push in Brazil against falsified health products sold through online channels. In recent months, Anvisa has also moved against counterfeit COVID-19 self-tests, unauthorised weight-loss injections, fake cosmetic and intimate-care products, and irregular or falsified medicines, usually citing the same concern: without regulatory approval and proper traceability, there is no assurance of quality, safety or effectiveness.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
