8 Jun 2010
A 26-year-old woman was today (June 8) arrested in a joint operation by the Police and the Department of Health (DH) as part of their follow-up investigation into the sale of a slimming product, S&S Super Slender, which was earlier found to contain undeclared western drug ingredients that may cause serious side effects.
In today's operation, the woman was caught for suspected illegal sale of the product "S&S Super Slender", which is an unregistered pharmaceutical product and contains Part I poison.
The investigation continues.
In February, DH obtained the product from an Internet auction website, acting on information from the department's surveillance programme.
The department subsequently issued a warning on February 25 asking members of the public not to take the product as laboratory tests detected undeclared western drug ingredients, sibutramine and its analogue, as well as phenolphthalein, in product samples.
A DH spokesman said the product was not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong.
Sibutramine is a Western medicine used as an appetite suppressant. Its side effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate, psychosis and possibly convulsion. It should not be taken by people with heart problems.
Sibutramine analogues, being chemically similar to sibutramine, are expected to have the same side effects as sibutramine.
Phenolphthalein was once used for treating constipation but has been banned for its cancer-causing effect.
Any product containing sibutramine must be registered before it can be sold in Hong Kong. It can be sold only on a doctor's prescription and dispensed under the supervision of a pharmacist.
"Sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products is an offence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment."
The spokesman exhorted members of the public not to sell products of unknown or doubtful composition.
"People should stop using the products immediately. They should consult a doctor if they feel unwell after taking the product," the spokesman said.
They should destroy and dispose of the products or submit them to the department's Pharmaceutical Service at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon, during office hours.
The spokesman said: "Weight control should be achieved through balanced diet and appropriate exercise. People should consult healthcare professionals before using any medication for weight control."