Public urged not to buy or consume product of doubtful composition (with photo)
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Acting upon intelligence, the DH purchased a sample of the above product from an Internet seller for analysis. Test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the sample contains diclofenac, a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (PPO) (Cap 138). The DH's investigation is continuing.
Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief and its side-effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and peptic ulcers. Oral products containing diclofenac are prescription drugs and should be supplied at pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.
According to the PPO, 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 Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
"The public should not buy or consume 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. Safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed," a DH spokesman said.
People who have purchased the product should stop taking it immediately and consult healthcare professionals if they are in doubt or feeling unwell. They can submit the product 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, January 18, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:22
Issued at HKT 18:22
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