A retail shop in Sham Shui Po was raided yesterday in a joint operation by the Department of Health (DH) and the Police for suspected illegal sale of a slimming product called 4C Cosmoslim.
The product is suspected to contain an undeclared, banned drug ingredient and Part 1 poisons.
A woman aged 19 was arrested by the police during the raid for suspected illegal sale of Part 1 poison and unregistered pharmaceutical product.
The DH, which is investigating the source of the product, said the action followed a public complaint. A sample of the product was subsequently purchased and tested.
Analysis by the Government Laboratory revealed the sample contained a banned ingredient, phenolphthalein, and Part 1 poisons, diclofenac and lignocaine. At that point the decision was made to raid the retail shop.
Phenolphthalein was once used to treat constipation, but has been banned in Hong Kong for its cancer-causing effect. Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief and its side-effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and peptic ulcers. Lignocaine is a local anaesthetic and may cause hypersensitivity reactions.
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 legally sold in the market. The illegal sale of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products are criminal offences, with maximum penalties for each offence including a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The DH has advised members of the public who have purchased the product to stop consuming it immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if they feel unwell or in doubt after consuming the product.
People may submit the product to the DH’s Drug Office at Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Rd East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, during office hours for disposal.