The Department of Health (DH) today (August 26) urged people not to buy or consume a slimming product called "Shou Shen Dan－Xiao Nan Wan" (瘦身丹－消腩丸) which has been found to contain a Western drug ingredient and may cause side effects.
The importing company of the product has been instructed to recall the product from the market and to surrender it to the department. People who have purchased the product should immediately stop using it and seek medical advice if they feel unwell.
A department spokesman said that during a round of sampling exercise in August, a sample of the product was purchased for testing for the presence of Western drug ingredients.
Laboratory tests conducted on the product found it to have contained sibutramine (西布曲明) but the product was not registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
"Sibutramine is a Western drug ingredient used as appetite suppressant.
It can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, and people with heart problems should not take it. Products containing sibutramine are Western medicines and must be registered before sale," the spokesman said.
"Products containing this drug ingredient are Third Schedule poisons under Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, i.e. they can only be sold on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist," he said.
People are advised to dispose of it or return the product to the importing company (telephone number 2411 6776).
They may also submit the product to the Pharmaceutical Service of DH 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 the 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/200508/26/P200508260228.htm