Replies to LegCo questions
Legislative Council Question No. 12 (Written Reply)
Date of Sitting: 31 May 2000
Asked by: Hon NG Leung-sing
Replied by: Secretary for Health and Welfare
Question :
It has been reported that the tests conducted by the California Department of Health Services of the United States ("US") on the composition of Chinese patent medicines sold there have found in some of the samples the presence of heavy metals exceeding the relevant standards or of western pharmaceutical ingredients. Some of these Chinese patent medicines are sold or manufactured in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether :
(a) it has approached the relevant US authorities for the findings of the tests; if so, of the details of the findings; and the follow-up measures taken or to be taken by the Government to regulate the Chinese patent medicines sold or manufactured locally which have been found to contain heavy metals in excess of the relevant standards; and
(b) it has assessed the adequacy of the measures to regulate the Chinese patent medicines sold in Hong Kong, and the basis on which the Government determines the regulatory standards?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a) The Department of Health (DH) has approached the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) in the United States to seek information on the proprietary Chinese medicines which are reported in the press to have been found by CDHS to contain western medicine ingredients or excessive heavy metal. The CDHS has released part of the information.
Some of the products identified were available for sale in Hong Kong. DH has taken samples of the relevant products for testing. The test results indicated that one of the products contained western medicine ingredients and another excessive heavy metal. At DH's instruction, traders concerned have already recalled their products from the local market. DH is seeking legal advice on whether prosecution action should be taken against the concerned traders. DH will follow up with the US authorities to obtain the remaining information.
(b) At present the Department of Health tests about 120 samples of proprietary Chinese medicines monthly. Traders will be instructed to recall those products which are found to be adulterated with western medicine ingredients or contain excessive heavy metal. They may also be prosecuted.
The Chinese Medicine Ordinance was enacted in July 1999 to regulate the practice of Chinese medicine, and the trading, manufacture and use of Chinese medicines. The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong established under the Ordinance is working on the detailed framework for the regulation of Chinese medicines, with a view to making relevant subsidiary legislation in the near future. Under the proposed system, all proprietary Chinese medicines in future will need to fulfil the requirements on safety, efficacy and quality before the products may be registered and sold in Hong Kong.