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DH instructs recall of two health products

  • 2001.06.06

The Department of Health (DH) today (June 6) advised members of the public not to buy and use two health products that contained a western medicine, Sildenafil.

The two products, imported from the Mainland, are:

*  Jiannanchun Pian (Importer's hotline 2454 3787 operates from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays)

*  Sika Deer Pilose Antler Oral Liquid (Importer's hotline 2344 0460 operates from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays)

The first product is sold in the form of tablets and the second is sold in the form of an oral liquid.

A spokesman for DH said: "Importers of the two health products have been instructed to immediately recall their products from the market and to surrender them to DH.

"Members of the public who have purchased any one of the products, are advised to stop using them, dispose of the products or return them to the importers concerned.

"The use of Sildenafil must be supervised by medical practitioners as it could cause side effects such as serious hypotension among people with heart diseases."

DH has a surveillance programme to regularly sample and analyse health products and propriety Chinese medicine to detect the presence of western medicine ingredients.

Products containing western medicine are pharmaceutical products and must be registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance before they are allowed to be put on sale.

The two products were found to contain Sildenafil, which is a western medicine, used for erectile dysfunction (impotence). The two products have not been registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

The spokesman reminded importers and retailers that the possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence liable to an maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment. Retailers should remove the two products from their shelves and return them to the importers.

Currently there is only one pharmaceutical product containing Sildenafil that has been registered in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is a prescription only medicine and must be used under the guidance of a doctor.

Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page :

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200106/06/0606165.htm