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The Department of Health (DH) today (September 10) urged members of the public not to buy or use two proprietary Chinese medicines named [Hui Chun Tang] Ui Pao Pill (UPP) and Lu Shen Wan (LSW), as they were both found to have exceeded heavy metals limit during recent market surveillance.
Both products are manufactured by a local licensed manufacturer called Hong Kong Hui Chun Tang Zhong Yao Chang (O/B U.S.A. Herbal Pharmacopoeia Limited)
The appeal was made in view of the detection of exceeding maximum permitted level of mercury in UPP (batch number: 17013) and that of lead in LSW (batch number: 22013) during DH's surveillance exercise.
A spokesman for the department said chronic exposure to mercury can cause numbness and gradual decreases in the senses of touch, vision, hearing and taste. In addition, neurological symptoms such as progressive loss of memory and balance, insomnia, hand tremors and behavioural changes, and kidney damage can also be resulted.
On the other hand, chronic exposure to lead may lead to anaemia, joint and muscle pain, brain and kidney damage, he said.
DH inspected the manufacturer this afternoon and instructed the manufacturer to recall the products from the market.
The manufacturer has set up a hotline 2695 8587 to answer public enquiries about recall arrangement.
Members of the public can also contact DH's hotline 2209 9446 which operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
The spokesman urged members of the public who have used the products to stop taking them immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel unwell.
They should submit the products to the DH's Chinese Medicines Section on the second floor, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours, or destroy them before disposal.
Ends/Thursday, September 10, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:01
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