A retail shop in Mong Kok was raided today (April 15) in a joint operation by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police for suspected offering for sale and possession of an unregistered pharmaceutical product labelled to contain Part I poison.
Acting upon a complaint, it was found that the above retail shop was offering for sale a dietary supplement called LIPO RED, which was labelled as containing yohimbine. Yohimbine is a Part I poison and products containing yohimbine should be sold in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
During the operation, a man aged 36 was arrested by the Police for suspected possession of Part I poison and unregistered pharmaceutical product.
The DH's investigation is ongoing.
Yohimbine has an antidiuretic effect and its side-effects include increase in heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, manic reactions and bronchospasm.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold legally in the market. Illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part I poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the label in the format of "HK-XXXXX". Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
Members of the public who have purchased the above products should stop consuming them immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell or in doubt after consumption.
People who have purchased the above product may submit them to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, during office hours for disposal.
Acting upon a complaint, it was found that the above retail shop was offering for sale a dietary supplement called LIPO RED, which was labelled as containing yohimbine. Yohimbine is a Part I poison and products containing yohimbine should be sold in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
During the operation, a man aged 36 was arrested by the Police for suspected possession of Part I poison and unregistered pharmaceutical product.
The DH's investigation is ongoing.
Yohimbine has an antidiuretic effect and its side-effects include increase in heart rate and blood pressure, anxiety, manic reactions and bronchospasm.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold legally in the market. Illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part I poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the label in the format of "HK-XXXXX". Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.
Members of the public who have purchased the above products should stop consuming them immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if feeling unwell or in doubt after consumption.
People who have purchased the above product may submit them to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, during office hours for disposal.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201504/15/P201504150816.htm