Press Release
Woman arrested for selling of slimming products with banned drugs
16 May 2011
The Department of Health (DH) appeals to members of the public not to buy or definitely not to eat slimming products from doubtful or unknown sources, the internet included, as they may contain hazardous substances which are not only unsafe, but can even be life-threatening.
The appeal follows the arrest of a 40-year-old woman in a joint operation with the Police today (May 16) for the sale of a slimming product known as "Slimming Capsules" which has been found earlier to contain undeclared banned drug ingredients.
"Here, the woman might have contravened the law because of illegal selling of Part I poison plus the illegal sale of an unregistered pharmaceutical product," a DH spokesman remarked.
DH first obtained samples of five slimming products, including the product involved in today's arrest, through purchase from internet auction websites during the Department's targeted surveillance. The other four products are “Super Fat Burning Bomb - Quick Result Slimming”, “Super Fat Burning Bomb - Reduce Fat on Abdomen and Waist Type”, “Super Fat Burning Bomb” and “Fat 2 and 1 Burners III Soft and Hard Gelatin Capsules Combination Pack”.
Laboratory analysis by the Government Laboratory detected that all five products contained sibutramine and its analogues, and three of them also contained phenolphthalein.
Sibutramine was a western medicine once used as an appetite suppressant. It was also a Part I poison. Since November 2010, sibutramine-containing products have been banned by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board because of increased cardiovascular risk amongst consumers.
Sibutramine analogues, being chemically similar to sibutramine, are expected to possess the same properties as sibutramine, and are hence being treated likewise.
Phenolphthalein was another banned drug. It was used previously for treating constipation, but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
"Thus, products containing sibutramine or phenolphthalein are banned and are not accepted for registration as pharmaceutical products in Hong Kong. The sale of unregistered pharmaceutical product and illegal sale of Part I poison are offences under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance and their maximum penalties are both fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment," the spokesman clarifies.
"People must stop using all the named products immediately if they have any in hand. They should consult a doctor if they feel unwell after taking the products. Any remaining amount must be submitted to the Department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours as soon as possible as they are unregistered drugs and banned Part I poisons," the spokesman stresses.
The spokesman concludes by re-emphasizing that "Weight control should only be achieved through good diet and appropriate exercise. People ought to consult healthcare workers for their professional advice if they have questions and definitely before using any medication for weight control."
The Department of Health has appealed to members of the public not to buy and definitely not to eat five slimming products known as "Slimming Capsules", "Super Fat Burning Bomb - Quick Result Slimming", "Super Fat Burning Bomb - Reduce Fat on Abdomen and Waist Type", "Super Fat Burning Bomb" and "Fat 2 and 1 Burners III Soft and Hard Gelatin Capsules Combination Pack" as they contain banned drugs.