Press Release

DH endorses batch recall of Zinc Cream 20g

11 December 2014

The Department of Health (DH) today (December 11) endorsed a licensed drug manufacturer, Medipharma Limited (Medipharma), to recall two batches (batch numbers: 411749 and 410627) of Zinc Cream 20g (registration number: HK-40872) from shelves due to a packaging error.

The DH was notified by Medipharma of a complaint that two boxes labelled as Zinc Cream 20g were found to contain another Medipharma product, namely Cinotec Cream 0.025% 15g (registration number: HK-19976), inside the box. Preliminary investigation by Medipharma revealed that certain outer boxes for Cinotec Cream 0.025% 15g were wrongly printed with the label of Zinc Cream 20g. These incorrect outer boxes may have been used to pack two batches (batch numbers: 411749 and 410627) of Cinotec Cream 0.025% 15g. As such, products with an outer box labelled as Zinc Cream 20g with the batch numbers 411749 or 410627 are problematic products, as they actually contain an aluminium tube of Cinotec Cream 0.025% 15g bearing the correct label of Cinotec Cream inside the box.

Cinotec Cream, a steroid cream containing fluocinolone, is a prescription medicine for the treatment of eczema and allergic skin disorders while Zinc Cream is an over-the-counter medicine used for diaper rash and skin irritation. Side-effects of steroid include moon face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, adrenal insufficiency and even osteoporosis.

So far, the DH has not received any adverse reaction reports related to the products. The DH's investigation is continuing.

Medipharma reported that the affected wrongly packed Cinotec Cream 0.025% 15g had been supplied to local pharmacies since October.

Medipharma has set up a hotline (2523 3670) to answer public enquiries. The DH will closely monitor the recall.

"Those who have used the products should consult their health-care providers if in doubt. They should check the tube label before use," a spokesman for the DH advised.