Hong Kong police and Department of Health officials raided a retail shop in Cheung Chau on Monday for the suspected illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
The DH says that during its routine market surveillance, it found suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products were being offered for sale at the shop.
“Various products, including pain killers, cold and flu medicines, and cream, labelled in Japanese were seized in the operation. The products were labelled to contain ibuprofen, dihydrocodeine, fluocinolone and neomycin respectively.”
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong (PPBHK), these are not registered pharmaceutical products and Hong Kong registration numbers were not found on any of the product labels. Preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the products were sourced outside Hong Kong.
A man aged 57 was arrested by police and charged with suspected sale and possession of Part I poisons, unregistered pharmaceutical products and antibiotics.
The DH’s investigations are ongoing.
“Use of unregistered pharmaceutical products may pose health threats to people as their safety, efficacy and quality are not guaranteed. Ibuprofen, dihydrocodeine and fluocinolone are Part I poisons. Inappropriate use of steroids like fluocinolone may cause serious side-effects, such as Cushing’s Syndrome with symptoms including moon face and muscle atrophy while inappropriate use of pain killers like ibuprofen without medical supervision may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, and products with dihydrocodeine may cause nausea and vomiting.
“Neomycin is an antibiotic and inappropriate use of antibiotics may lead to antibiotics resistance. Members of the public should not self-medicate without advice from healthcare professionals,” a spokesman for the DH explained in a statement.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap 138), all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the PPBHK before they can be sold legally in Hong Kong. Part I poisons should be sold at pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists.
Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part I poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. According to the Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap 137), illegal sale or possession of antibiotics is also a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $30,000 and one year’s imprisonment.
The DH renewed its warning to the public not to buy or use products of unknown or doubtful composition or from unknown sources.
“People who have purchased and used the above products should consult healthcare professionals for advice. They may submit the products to the DH’s Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, during office hours for disposal,” the spokesman said.
