19 Mar 2010
The Department of Health (DH) carried out follow up investigations into a slimming product named "Kartien Easy to Slim" with undeclared western drug ingredients that may cause serious side effects.
The department received a report concerning a 35-year-old woman who presented symptoms of psychosis, had history of taking the product for weight reduction. Laboratory results showed that the samples collected from the patient contained sibutramine.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, sibutramine must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and under supervision of a pharmacist.
Possession for the purpose of sale or sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products is liable on conviction to a $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.
The DH conducted a visit to the premises of the Chinese Medical Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and the related wholesaling company "Harmonic Health Pharmaceutical Company Limited" in Wan Chai.
Preliminary findings revealed that the company had records of selling the unregistered product in July 2009 despite DH’s earlier instruction to recall them from the market in May 2008. The source of the product is yet to be confirmed.
Investigations into the case continue.
A spokesman for the department added that the company was convicted twice in 2004 and 2009, for possessing unregistered pharmaceutical products and possessing Part I poisons respectively.