11 May 2010
Licensed manufacturer in proprietary Chinese medicine, Li Chung Shing Tong (Holdings) Ltd. HK has been given the green light to resume production and marketing of Po Chai Pills Bottle Form.
The manufacturer launched trial production of the Bottle Form since the end of last month, after putting in place a number of remedies. On-site examinations by Department of Health (DH) pharmaceutical inspectors are satisfied that the Department's requirements are met.
"There is no longer need to suspend the production of the Bottle Form," a DH spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health will enhance market surveillance on the new Po Chai Pills Bottle Form.
In connection, the manufacturer has withdrawn application for registration of Po Chai Pills Capsule Form which has already ceased to be produced since late March.
As a precautionary but necessary measure, DH directed the manufacturer to recall all its products in March as the Capsule Form was found by the Singaporean authority to contain a banned drug phenolphthalein and another controlled drug sibutramine which are known to cause very serious side effects.
Laboratory tests identified 11 tainted samples, all in Capsule Form, while none of the Bottle Form samples was found to contain the above two western medicines.
"To complete the management of this incident, the Department of Justice is being consulted for advice on relevant prosecution actions."