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A retail shop in Causeway Bay was raided by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police in a joint operation today (March 7). The shop was suspected to be selling unregistered pharmaceutical products.
Upon the investigation of a public complaint, the DH found various unregistered pharmaceutical products (see Annex) being offered for sale by a retail shop in Causeway Bay. The unregistered pharmaceutical products found were over-the-counter medicines labelled as containing vitamins. Hong Kong pharmaceutical product registration numbers were not found on any of the product labels. Preliminary investigation so far has revealed that the suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products were sourced by the company outside Hong Kong.
During the operation, a 22-year-old man was arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold legally in the market. The sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH's investigation is continuing.
A DH spokesperson strongly urged members of the public not to buy or use unregistered pharmaceutical products from the market as such products have not been evaluated by the Board and their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX".
Members of the public who have bought the above products should stop using them immediately, and consult health-care professionals for advice if they are in doubt or feeling unwell after using the products concerned. They may 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.
Ends/Thursday, March 7, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:25
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