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A retail shop in Mong Kok was raided today (May 22) in a joint operation by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
Upon the investigation of a public complaint, the DH found five types of unregistered pharmaceutical products being offered for sale by a retail shop in Mong Kok. The products found were labelled as containing vitamins or glucosamine, but Hong Kong pharmaceutical product registration numbers were not found on any of the product labels. Pharmaceutical products containing vitamins or glucosamine are generally over-the-counter medicines that are used as nutritional supplements and for joint problems respectively. Preliminary investigation so far revealed that the products were sourced by the company outside Hong Kong.
During the operation, a 25-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The DH's investigation is continuing.
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. Illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
A DH spokesman 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 are not guaranteed. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format "HK-XXXXX".
Members of the public who have bought the above products should stop taking them immediately, and consult health-care professionals if they are in doubt or feeling unwell after using them. They may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
Ends/Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:31
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