GEORGE TOWN — Authorities have raised the alarm over a significant increase in poisoning cases involving unregistered rat poison products in Malaysia, with children aged one to four identified as the most vulnerable group. The National Poison Centre (NPC) says this trend poses a serious public health threat.
According to Asdariah Misnan, pharmacist at the NPC’s Drug and Poison Information Service UF14, data collected between 2023 and 2025 shows that more than 40 per cent of reported rodenticide poisoning cases involved illegal or unregistered products. In 2023 alone, 42 out of 94 cases recorded were linked to such products, rising to 61 out of 143 in 2024 and 51 out of 118 in 2025.
The situation worsened between October and December last year, when 35 cases were reported, and 18 — or about 51.4 per cent — involved unregistered rat poison products. This spike has raised concern among health professionals, particularly as the majority of affected cases were accidental exposures by young children in domestic environments.
Young Children at Highest Risk
Asdariah noted that between 60 and 70 per cent of the poisoning cases involved children aged one to four years. Many incidents occurred because rat poison bait was mixed with food and placed in open areas within homes where young children could reach them. These accidental exposures often led to severe health outcomes.
The NPC has identified several unregistered rat poison brands frequently linked to incidents, including Smell to Death, Morat, Mao Wang, Hai Zhen Wei, Super Rat Killer, Victory, RTV Rat Poison, and Tomrat, as well as other products with Chinese‑language labelling but without valid registration numbers.
Risks from Mislabelled and Toxic Ingredients
Investigation and lab analysis revealed serious irregularities in product labelling. In some cases, the concentration of active ingredients was higher than stated on the packaging, significantly increasing the risk of poisoning even with small amounts of ingestion. Other cases showed substances present that were not declared on labels or online descriptions, and which can be more toxic or banned in many countries.
Among the dangerous substances found were Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS), Sodium monofluoroacetate (SMFA), Fluoroacetamide and Fluoroacetic acid — all of which can cause recurrent seizures and death at low doses and are banned in numerous jurisdictions due to their high toxicity.
The NPC also referred to an incident in July 2024 in Kulim, Kedah, where two children died after consuming crackers laced with rat poison containing an unregistered toxic substance known to cause seizures. Health authorities cited this tragedy as a stark warning of the dangers posed by illegal rodenticides.
Calls for Action and Enforcement
In response to the rising number of poisoning incidents, the NPC urged government agencies to step up enforcement and take decisive action to halt the sale and distribution of unregistered rat poison products. The agency stressed the need for stricter controls and tighter monitoring both online and in physical marketplaces.
Asdariah recommended that e‑commerce platform operators allow only licensed sellers registered with the Pesticides Board of Malaysia to list pesticide products, and ensure that valid registration numbers are clearly displayed to help consumers identify legal products.
Under the Pesticides Act of 1974, the sale and use of unregistered pesticide products may constitute an offence. The NPC also highlighted the role of consumers in choosing registered and properly labelled products to reduce avoidable poisoning cases.
The NPC affirmed its readiness to support government agencies and stakeholders in enforcing regulations and preventing the spread of dangerous unregistered products. “Every case of poisoning caused by illegal rat poison is preventable through effective product control, responsible sales practices and vigilant consumers,” the centre said
