A 43-year-old man was arrested today (December 7) in a joint operation by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police in Mong Kok for illegal sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product called "Proloonging Delay Spray for men" (the product).
Earlier, on the investigation of a complaint against the product which was offered for sale on the Internet, it was found that the product was labelled as containing lidocaine, a pharmaceutical product ingredient.
"Proloonging Delay Spray for men" is a pharmaceutical product not registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (the Board). The product, which was labelled as containing lidocaine, is also a Part I poison and should be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists.
Lidocaine is commonly used as a local anaesthetic to relieve pain or to desensitise skin before minor operations. Common side effects include a hypersensitive reaction.
During the operation, the man was arrested by the Police for the illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products and illegal sale of Part I poisons.
The investigation by the DH is continuing.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), the sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part I poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment for each offence.
As unregistered pharmaceutical products have not been evaluated by the Board, their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed. A DH spokesperson urged members of the public not to buy or use products of unknown or doubtful compositions from the market or the Internet. They should consult health care professionals for advice if they feel unwell after using the product concerned.
"Members of the public should stop using the product immediately. They should submit them to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1801, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal," the spokesperson said.
(Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201212/07/P201212070541.htm )