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Public urged not to buy or consume slimming products with doubtful composition (with photo)

  • 2018.02.14

The Department of Health (DH) today (February 14) appealed to the public not to buy or consume four slimming products as they were found to contain undeclared ingredients. The products are:
 

CA NI CAP Arm Slim (sibutramine found);
7 Days Slim hip & Legs (sibutramine found);
Slim Perfect Legs (sibutramine found); and
CA NI Slim BELLANCE (orlistat found).

     
     Following a public complaint, samples of the above products were purchased from an Internet seller for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the samples either contain sibutramine or orlistat, which are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138) (the Ordinance).

     The DH's investigation is continuing.

     Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant. Since November 2010, products containing sibutramine have been banned in Hong Kong because of increased cardiovascular risk. Orlistat is used for the treatment of obesity. Its side-effects include faecal urgency, fatty stool, increased frequency of defecation, faecal incontinence, headache and abdominal pain. Severe liver injuries may also be induced
          
     According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

     The DH spokesman strongly urged the public not to buy or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format HK-XXXXX. Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.

     "Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control," the spokesman advised.

     The public may visit the Drug Office's pages for health messages on weight control and slimming products (www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/consumer/slim.html) and information on slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients (www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/specMedsNews/slimming/en/consumer).

     People who have purchased the products should stop taking them immediately and consult healthcare professionals if they are in doubt or feeling unwell. They can submit the products to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.   

The Department of Health today (February 14) appealed to the public not to buy or consume four slimming products as they were found to contain undeclared ingredients.

Reprinted from HKSAR Government:

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/14/P2018021400800.htm