April 12, 2013

Department of Health and Police officers have arrested a 27-year-old woman for selling a slimming product with undeclared and banned drug substances.
 
She was arrested today after the product was found for sale on an Internet auction site.
 
Conting Qianweisu Slimming Herbs Capsule contains two undeclared and banned Western medicines, sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
 
The former is a Part I poison once used as an appetite suppressant. It poses a cardiovascular risk and is banned. Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its possible cancer-causing effect.
 
All pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy & Poisons Board before they can be sold.
 
The department urged the public not to buy products of unknown or doubtful composition, or consume products from unknown sources. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". Unregistered pharmaceutical products have not been evaluated by the board and their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed.