Press Release
Retail shop raided for selling unregistered pharmaceutical products
7 March 2013
A retail shop in Causeway Bay was raided by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police in a joint operation today (March 7). The shop was suspected to be selling unregistered pharmaceutical products.
Upon the investigation of a public complaint, the DH found various unregistered pharmaceutical products (see Annex) being offered for sale by a retail shop in Causeway Bay. The unregistered pharmaceutical products found were over-the-counter medicines labelled as containing vitamins. Hong Kong pharmaceutical product registration numbers were not found on any of the product labels. Preliminary investigation so far has revealed that the suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products were sourced by the company outside Hong Kong.
During the operation, a 22-year-old man was arrested by the Police for suspected illegal sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold legally in the market. The sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The DH's investigation is continuing.
A DH spokesperson strongly urged members of the public not to buy or use unregistered pharmaceutical products from the market as such products have not been evaluated by the Board and their safety, quality and efficacy may not be guaranteed. All registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX".
Members of the public who have bought the above products should stop using them immediately, and consult health-care professionals for advice if they are in doubt or feeling unwell after using the products concerned. They may submit the products to the DH's Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, during office hours for disposal.
1. Pure One ‘n’ Only Men’s Formula 30 tablets
2. Douglas Laboratories Liquid Vitamin D-3
3. DaVinci B-12mc Spray
4. Pure Mother & Child Master Postnatal Formula 120’s
5. Pure One ‘n’ Only Women’s Formula 90 tablets
6. Pure One ‘n’ Only Prenatal Multiple 30 tablets
7. Kirkman Everyday Multi-Vitamin 125 Capsules
8. Kirkman Thera Response 180 Capsules
9. Kirkman Advanced Adult Multi-Vitamin/Mineral 120 Capsules
10. Kirkman Super Nu-Thera with 25mg P-5-P Caplets 540 Caplets
11. Kirkman Super Nu-Thera 360 capsules
12. Kirkman Super Nu-Thera w/o Vitamins A&D 360 capsules
13. Kirkman Super Nu-Thera Caplets 540 Caplets
14. Kirkman Children’s Chewable Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Wafers 120 Wafers
15. Kirkman Children’s Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Capsules 120 capsules
16. Carlson B-6 Liquid 120ml
17. Klaire Labs Methyl-cobalamin 60 tablets
18. ProThera Vitamin D3 5000IU 100 capsules
19. Kirkman Vitamin B-6 50mg 100 capsules
20. Kirkman B-Complex with CoEnzymes Pro-Support 200 Capsules
21. Klaire Labs Vitamin B6 150 vegetarian capsules
22. Ecological Formulas Co-enzyme B Complex 100 capsules
23. ProThera Vitamin D3 1000IU 100 capsules
24. Klaire Labs Pure-E 400IU 100 softgels
25. Douglas Laboratories Pantothenic Acid 500mg 100 capsules
26. Douglas Laboratories Orange-Chew 500mg 100 tablets
27. Kirkman B-6/Magnesium Vitamin/Mineral Chewable Wafers 120 Wafers
28. Kirkman Vitamin C Chewable Tablets 250mg 250 tablets
29. Kirkman Calcium 250mg with Vitamin D-3 Chewable Tablets 120 Tablets
30. Kirkman Vitamin E 100IU 100 Capsules
31. Kirkman Vitamin C 250mg 250 Capsules
32. Kirkman Vitamin D-3 400IU 120 Capsules
33. Kirkman Vitamin C Chewable Tablets 250mg 100 tablets