Press Release

Arrest for selling product with banned drug ingredient

29 Dec 2010

The Department of Health (DH) appealed to members of the public not to buy or consume products of unknown or doubtful sources advertised on the internet as they can contain undeclared drug ingredients that are injurious to health or even illegal.

The appeal followed the arrest of a man aged 20 today (December 29) in a joint operation by the Police and the DH for suspected sale of a product which was known to contain an undeclared banned drug as ingredient. The product's name was "Chalkiness Cap.".
The man was arrested for illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical product. DH first obtained the product concerned from an internet auction website during its surveillance programme. Laboratory analysis revealed that the product actually contained the banned drug phenolphthalein.

Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but is banned for its cancer-causing effect.

Thus, any product containing phenolphthalein is an unregistered pharmaceutical product and as such, cannot be sold in Hong Kong. Sale of unregistered pharmaceutical product is an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of HK$100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The spokesman exhorted members of the public, particularly traders, not to sell products of unknown or doubtful composition.

People should stop using Chalkiness Cap immediately. They should consult a doctor if they feel unwell after having taken the product. As the product they have in hand is illegal, they should submit it to DH's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours for officials' disposal.