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Laboratory Testing of Po Chai Pills Completed
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     Today (March 29), the Government Laboratory has completed testing on all the 153 samples of Po Chai Pills in bottle and capsule forms as well as the raw material powder collected by Department of Health (DH) inspectors during investigation into the Li Chung Shing Tong contaminated Po Chai Pills incident. In total, 11 samples (including those previously announced) were found to contain two western drugs, phenolphthalein and sibutramine.

     The 11 tainted samples comprised five from powder for making capsules and six capsule form.

     According to investigation findings known, two of the capsules were made from powder prepared between late 2007 and early 2008, by a source remains to be revealed, but was certainly different from the one which Li Chung Shing Tong had been dealing with since the launching of the capsule form in 2001.  

     Another four capsule samples and all the five powder samples were traced to another powder supplier called 廣東施健生物科技有限公司 which Li Chung Shing Tong had patronised just once in May 2008. DH and its Guangdong counterpart are still working closely to look for details on this plant which could not be found in any of Guangdong's drug manufacturer record.

     A DH spokesman remarked that results in hand pointed towards Li Chung Shing Tong's failure to exercise due diligence to ensure the safety and quality of its products.  Hence, opportunity is taken to remind all licensed proprietary Chinese medicine licensees that they have the primary duty to ensure the safety and quality of their products and must comply with all the legal requirements.

     Meanwhile, about 7,585 boxes of Po Chai Pills capsule form and about 176,000 boxes of Po Chai Pills bottle form have been recalled by the manufacturer so far. Both recall and investigation are to continue.

Ends/Monday, March 29, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:45

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