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DH raids retail stall for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered medicines (with photo)
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     The Department of Health (DH) and the Police today (October 3) conducted a joint operation and raided a retail stall in Sham Shui Po for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm).
      
     Acting upon intelligence, samples of products offered for sale in the stall were purchased for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory confirmed that four of the samples contained undeclared Part 1 poisons and were found to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.  These products are:
 
  Product Name Part 1 poisons found
1. 九毒王藏药乳膏 (no English name) Clobetasol propionate and miconazole
2. ZANG YAO XUAN DU WANG CAO BEN RU GAO Clobetasol propionate and miconazole
3. MIAO JIA DU XUAN GAO Clobetasol propionate and miconazole
4. 藏宮秘宝点磁透骨贴 (no English name) diclofenac
 
     The product suspected to be an unregistered pCm was called 百痛油 (no English name) while four other products were suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.
      
     During the operation, a 60-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman were arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale and possession of Part 1 poisons, unregistered pharmaceutical products and possession of unregistered pCm.
      
     The investigation is continuing.
      
     Clobetasol propionate is a steroid substance for treating inflammation. Inappropriate or excessive application of steroids could cause skin problems and body-wide side effects like moon face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, adrenal insufficiency and osteoporosis. Products containing clobetasol propionate should be used under a doctor's directions and be supplied in a pharmacy under supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription. Miconazole is used for the treatment of fungal infections with side effects including local irritation and sensitivity reactions. Diclofenac is used for the relief of pain and common side effects of using diclofenac-containing analgesic patches include itching and rash at the site of application.
      
     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 legally sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap 549), no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless the pCm is registered. The maximum penalty involved is also a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment for each offence.
      
     "The public should not buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of 'HK-XXXXX'. All registered pCms should also carry a Hong Kong registration number on the product label in the format of 'HKC-XXXXX' or 'HKP-XXXXX'. Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products or pCms are not guaranteed. Those who have purchased the concerned products should stop using them and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or feeling unwell after use," a DH spokesman said.
      
     They can submit the products to the DH's Drug Office in Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
 
Ends/Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:57
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Photo

The Department of Health and the Police today (October 3) conducted a joint operation and raided a retail stall in Sham Shui Po for suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and possession of unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine. Photo shows the unregistered pharmaceutical products and unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine seized.