The Department of Health (DH) today (September 30) advised people not to buy or use two slimming health products, "Fitness Slim 1+1 Oral Liquid" and "Xtra 1 plus 1 Capsules".
 |
 |
The products were found to have contained a Western drug ingredient, sibutramine. However, they were not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
DH has instructed the importer to recall the products from the market and to surrender them to the department.
A department spokesman said products containing Western medicine were pharmaceutical products and must be registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance before they were allowed to be put on sale.
"Pharmaceutical products containing sibutramine can only be sold on a doctor's prescription," the spokesman said.
The two products contain sibutramine which is an appetite suppressant. The adverse effects of sibutramine include increased blood pressure and heart rate, and people with heart or circulatory system problems should not take it.
People who have purchased the products should immediately stop using them and see a doctor if they feel unwell. They are advised to dispose of them or return them to the importer or submit them to the Pharmaceutical Service of DH at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.
The spokesman reminded importers and retailers that the possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence liable to a maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
"For weight control, members of the public should observe good dietary practice and appropriate physical activities. Before using drugs for weight reduction, they should first consult their family doctors," he added.
People may call the hotline of the products' importer at 3426 2829 for matters relating to the recall. The department has also set up a hotline 2319 2839 for other enquiries until 8pm today and during office hours from tomorrow.
Reprinted from : HKSAR Government web page :
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200409/30/0930238.htm