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A 47-year-old woman was today (November 28) arrested in a joint operation by the Police and the Department of Health (DH) in Wan Chai for suspected illegal sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product which claimed to contain glucosamine.
Earlier on, through the DH's surveillance programme, information was received alleging that an unregistered pharmaceutical product, namely Kirkland Signature Glucosamine and Chondroitin, was offered for sale in an Internet auction website.
Kirkland Signature Glucosamine and Chondroitin, labelled as containing glucosamine, is a pharmaceutical product which is not registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Glucosamine is used as a dietary supplement.
During the operation, the woman was arrested by the Police for sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board before they can be sold legally in the market. Sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product is a criminal offence and the maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH's investigation is continuing.
The spokesman strongly urged the public not to buy or use unregistered pharmaceutical products as these products have not been evaluated by the Board and their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed. In addition, people should not buy such products from the market or the Internet.
"People should stop using the product immediately. They should consult health-care professionals for advice if they feel unwell after taking it," the spokesman continued.
The product can be submitted to the department's Drug Office at Room 2550, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:20
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