The Department of Health (DH) today (August 4) urged people not to buy or take two oral slimming products (one called "RS Slim & Fit" and another without an English name) which have been found to contain a Western drug ingredient.
Investigation has been conducted into the products upon referral by the Consumer Council to the department on July 29, 2005. After laboratory analysis, the products were confirmed to have contained sibutramine but they are not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant. Its adverse effects include increasing blood pressure and heart rate. People with heart or circulatory system problems should not take it.
The wholesaler of "RE Slim & Fit" and the importer of the other product have been instructed to recall their products from the market and to surrender them to DH.
"Products containing sibutramine are pharmaceutical products and must be registered before sale," a department spokesman said.
"Furthermore, pharmaceutical products containing this drug ingredient are Third Schedule poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance which can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist."
People who have purchased the products should immediately stop using them and seek medical advice if they feel unwell.
They are advised to dispose of them or return the "RS Slim & Fit" to the wholesaler (telephone number 2387 3661) or return the other product to the importer (telephone number 8109 8922).
People may also submit the products to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.
The department has also set up a hotline 2319 2839 for enquiries during office hours.
The spokesman reminded importers, wholesalers and retailers that possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence liable to a maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
"People should control their weight in terms of observing good dietary practice and appropriate physical activities. Before using drugs for weight reduction, they should first consult their family doctors," he said.
Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page:
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200508/04/08040125.htm