19 Nov 2009
The Department of Health (DH) conducted follow up investigation into a slimming product with undeclared western drug ingredient, resulting in the arrest of an Internet seller during a joint operation with the Police today (November 19)
The joint operation was conducted for the product labeled as "Shou Shen Jiao Guan - Ti Nei Yun Dong Wan (瘦身教館–體內運動丸)" at Shek Kip Mei MTR station.
The seller was found to possess another slimming product at the time of arrest. Other slimming products were also found in home search.
The department is investigating whether the seized products contain undeclared western drug ingredients.
"According to preliminary enquiry, these products were obtained from a Mainland website and sent to Hong Kong by post," a department spokesman said.
"Shou Shen Jiao Guan - Ti Nei Yun Dong Wan", obtained from an Internet auction website during the department’s surveillance operation, has been found to contain sibutramine and phenolphthalein
DH has issued a warning on November 13, reminding members of the public not to take the product.
The spokesman said sibutramine is a Western medicine used as an appetite suppressant. Its side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, psychosis and possibly convulsion. People with heart problems should not take it.
Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
A product containing sibutramine must be registered before it can be sold in Hong Kong. It can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
The spokesman exhorted members of the public not to sell products of unknown or doubtful composition.
"Sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
"Investigation will continue," he said.