Press Release

Recall of four Welfore sennosides drugs

28 Jun 2011

The Department of Health (DH) today (June 28) instructs a licensed drug wholesaler, Welfore Co Ltd (Welfore), to recall four of its sennosides drugs from the shelf as market surveillance conducted by DH pharmaceutical inspectors found that a sample has failed the disintegration test.

The four drugs, "Welfore Senna Forte Tab 17mg" (registration no. HK-60017), "Wel Health Strong Senna Tab 17mg" (registration no. HK-60018), "Legend Senna Extra Tab 17mg" (registration no. HK-60019) and "Senna Forte Tab 17mg" (registration no. HK-60020), are actually one and the same pharmaceutical product, manufactured in the States and imported into Hong Kong for sale over-the-counter for the relief of constipation. According to the product specification, they should disintegrate within 30 minutes.

Investigation reveals that since the products are registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, only one shipment has been shipped to Hong Kong.

So far, DH has not received any adverse report in connection.

Welfore has set up a hotline 2605 6881 to answer related enquiries.

"Here, contravention of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), selling drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser, might have occurred. The maximum penalty involved is $10,000 and 3 months' imprisonment," a DH spokesman remarked.

“While we will be working with the Department of Justice on prosecution follow-up, retailers must stop supplying the said products to clients.

“Members of the public who have the products in hand should cease to use them and seek advice from healthcare professionals if feeling unwell or in doubt," the spokesman said.