The Consumer Affairs Authority has raided a pet medicine manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda and discovered that western pharmaceutical ingredients used to treat ticks and skin diseases in animals were being blended into products and sold to consumers as “100% Natural Ayurvedic” pet care.
According to the CAA, the operator had concealed the true composition of the merchandise on its labelling, releasing the bottles to market with deceptive “herbal” branding that disguised the presence of regulated veterinary drugs. The authority did not publicly identify the manufacturer while the investigation continues.
CAA officials urged pet owners not to rely on “100% Natural” or “Herbal” marketing claims alone when buying animal medication. Consumers should instead verify that any veterinary product carries the relevant regulatory approvals and authentic product registrations before use, the agency said.
The raid is the latest in a sweep of enforcement actions ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, with CAA teams already targeting rice traders in Dambulla and Kegalle, a Matale Ayurvedic cream factory, and a Kandy restaurant over bottled water pricing. Pet care is a previously unseen category in this season’s enforcement push.
The authority warned that further investigations into the Minuwangoda operation are ongoing, and signalled that additional raids on mislabelled veterinary products could follow as the pre-Avurudu clampdown continues.
