A consumer in Baku says he was hospitalized after taking a vitamin complex allegedly sold with a falsified expiration date, highlighting growing concerns over counterfeit or relabeled pharmaceutical products in Azerbaijan.
According to Khazar TV, the citizen, Elvin Aliyev, purchased two packs of vitamins from a pharmacy on a doctor’s recommendation. After using the product, his health deteriorated.
When he peeled back the label, he discovered a second sticker beneath the visible one – the original expiration date, which had already passed. The top sticker carried a new, extended expiration date.
Aliyev claims the product’s shelf life had expired, but the pharmacy continued selling it with altered labeling. Following his hospitalization, he contacted the media, prompting reporters to visit the pharmacy where the vitamins were purchased.
Company Denies Tampering, Cites Date Format Difference
The distributor, Buta Pharm, denied any wrongdoing, saying the product – “Multivita”, made in South Korea – was legitimate and the confusion arose from the different date format used by Korean manufacturers.
“In Korea, the standard format is year-month-day, not day-month-year,” the company said. “The printed date ‘26.07.22’ refers to the manufacturing date – July 26, 2022 – and the expiration date is July 22, 2026. This is documented in official Korean export papers.”
Authorities Urge Citizens to Report Suspicious Products
The Analytical Expertise Center of the Ministry of Health said it would investigate the case only after receiving an official written complaint from the affected consumer.
“Once a formal request is submitted, the matter will be reviewed in accordance with legislation,” the agency said, adding that unplanned inspections can be carried out if violations are suspected.
A Wider Problem
Consumer-rights advocates note that this case exposes a deeper weakness in pharmaceutical oversight. Many pharmacies operate without rigorous inspection of imported packaging or relabeling practices, especially for supplements and vitamins that fall between food and medicine categories.
Public health experts warn that even minor errors – or deliberate tampering – can cause serious harm, particularly when expiration data are unclear or altered.
“This is not just about one vitamin,” said a pharmacist who spoke anonymously. “It’s about trust in the entire supply chain – from importer to pharmacist to patient.”
