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The Department of Health (DH) said today (May 11) that tests on Zhongya Brand Tzepao Sanpien Pills (Honey Pill) by the Government Laboratory revealed that the drug's lead level was within Hong Kong's permissible limit.
A spokesman said DH inspectors examined the premises of the local sole agent of Zhongya Brand on May 5, 2010, after Singaporean authorities detected an excessive level of lead in the pills (batch number: 551001).
The agent revealed that the pills it imported to Hong Kong were from a different batch. Sales records confirmed the claim. Samples of available Zhong Ya Brand Tzepao Sanpien Pills (Honey Pill) (HKP-00861) were collected for heavy metal analysis. All test results, including for lead, were satisfactory.
The spokesman added that according to the department's market surveillance records, six previous testings of Tzepao Sanpien Pills (Honey Pill) for heavy metals, lead included, between 2009 and 2010 were all satisfactory.
"All findings indicated that the affected batch of Zhongya Brand Tzepao Sanpien Pill reported by the Singaporean authorities was not available in Hong Kong's market," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:21
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