Industrial premises raided for illegal manufacturing of proprietary Chinese medicines (with photos)
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     An industrial premises located at Unit B, 1/F, Block 2, Vigor Industrial Building, 49-53 Ta Chuen Ping Street, Kwai Chung, New Territories, was raided by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police in a joint operation yesterday (September 25). The premises was found to have packaged two suspected proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) without a manufacturer licence of pCms.

     Upon the investigation of a public complaint, the DH found that two suspected pCms which were labelled as Jin Bei Brand Lu Shen Wan (Lu Shen Wan) (registration number: HKP-03253) and Heart Tonic Pills (registration number: HKP-12601) were packaged in the premises concerned. The registration holder of these two pCms is the Hong Kong Medicine Manufactory, which had its manufacturer licence in pCms become invalid in April 2014.

     The DH has seized all the related pCms for further investigation. In addition, 51 suspected pCms of unknown or doubtful sources were also found at the spot. A 43-year-old man was arrested for suspected illegal manufacturing of pCms during the operation.

     "Based on the information on the package inserts, Lu Shen Wan and Heart Tonic Pills are indicated mainly for tonsillitis and palpitation respectively. While investigation is ongoing, the DH has not received any reports of related adverse incidents thus far," a spokesman of the DH said.

     "According to section 131 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), manufacturing any proprietary Chinese medicine without a manufacturer licence is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty of the offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. On completion of the investigation, the DH will work with the Department of Justice for prosecution matters," the spokesman remarked.

     "Wholesalers and retailers are strongly reminded to purchase pCms from reputable suppliers. Members of the public who suspect they have purchased the products concerned should surrender them to the Chinese Medicine Division of the DH at 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. They should also stop using them immediately and consult their health-care providers if feeling unwell or in doubt," the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, September 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:35

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