Press Release

Recall of heavy metal-tainted proprietary Chinese medicines

10 Aug 2011

The Department of Health (DH) today (August 10) urges members of the public not to buy or use three proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) named [LuShenPai] Specific Hou Ton Qing (HTQ) (registration no.: HKP-01694; batch no.:100601), [Chung Lien] Bi Yan Pian (BYP) (registration no.: HKP-00241; batch no.:48911004), and [AA] Pe Min Kan Wan (PMKW) (registration no.: HKP-13005; batch no.: 1495), as DH's drug surveillance programme found them to contain excessive amount of heavy metals (see Table). For public health protection, the drugs need to be recalled from consumers.

A spokesman for the DH explains that action is initiated after the Department learnt from the Government Laboratory earlier on today that about 17.5 times the permitted level of arsenic is detected in an HTQ sample, and 3.4 times and 2.7 times the permitted level of mercury are found in BYP and PMKW samples respectively.

All three pCms were manufactured in the Mainland, and BYP and PMKW were manufactured by the same manufacturer. Three pCms were imported by three local licensed wholesalers of pCms (see Table), namely Sing Kwan Trading Co., Fung Wah (HK) Company, and M & A Natural Healthcare Products Company Limited. M & A Natural Healthcare Products Company Limited is also a licensed manufacturer of pCms.

"HTQ is used to relieve throat discomfort. BYP and PMKW are used to manage symptoms of rhinitis," the spokesman states.

"Arsenic and mercury are both toxic heavy metals. Acute arsenic poisoning may cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and coma. Prolonged exposure can adversely affect the liver, kidney and heart. Acute mercury poisoning can cause inflammation of the mouth, while prolonged exposure can damage the neurological system and kidney.Young children are particularly vulnerable to both heavy metals," the spokesman says. No adverse event related to consumption of the three drugs has been notified to DH.

"Initial investigation by DH reveals that Sing Kwan Trading Co. performed secondary packaging of HTQ, while M & A Natural Healthcare Products Company Limited performed both primary and secondary packaging of PMKW in Hong Kong, the other drug, BYP was sold intact," the spokesman described.

"As such, the chance of contamination after import was minimal. So, the matter is referred to the Mainland's drug regulatory authority for their upstream tracing," the spokesman continues.

It is understood that the wholesalers have set up separate hotlines for related enquiries ( see Table ).

"Contravention of section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap 132, Laws of Hong Kong - selling a drug intended for use by man but unfit for that purpose might have occurred here. The maximum penalty for the respective wholesaler is $50,000 and six months' imprisonment. In any case, we will consult the Department of Justice regarding possible prosecution on completion of our investigation," the spokesman remarks.

The spokesman reminds those members of the public who have purchased any of the three products to surrender it to DH at 16/F, Two Landmark East, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.

"For those who have used any of those products and are feeling unwell or in doubt, they should seek help from their healthcare providers as soon as possible. DH's investigation will continue and we will also be monitoring the recall," the spokesman advises.