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The Department of Health (DH) today (June 27) raided two retail shops in Mong Kok and Yuen Long for suspected illegal sale of two slimming products called 4L SLIMNESS and 4L SLIMBURN PLUS, which are suspected to contain an undeclared Part 1 poison.
Acting upon intelligence, samples of the above products were previously purchased for analysis. The test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the samples contained diclofenac, a Part 1 poison.
The DH's investigation is ongoing.
Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain relief and its side-effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea and peptic ulcers. Products containing diclofenac are prescription drugs and should be supplied at pharmacies under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.
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. Illegal sale of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
Members of the public who have purchased the above products should stop consuming them immediately. They should consult healthcare professionals for advice if they feel unwell or in doubt after consuming the products.
A spokesman for the DH strongly urges members of the public that they should neither buy products of unknown or doubtful composition, nor consume products from unknown sources. Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control.
People 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.
Ends/Monday, June 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:12
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