Thursday November 30, 2006
Production of Baike Wan herbal supplement stopped
KUALA LUMPUR: Production of the herbal supplement Baike Wan has stopped and products bearing this name found on the shelves are dangerous imitations that should be avoided.
According to Shen Loon She Enterprise Sdn Bhd, the Penang-based registered licence holder of Baike Wan, the product was banned by the Health Ministry early last year .
Shen Loon She business development director Andy Lee said fake Baike Wan products contained harmful substances.
“There are three manufacturers in the country making the fake product that comes in different types of packaging, with the capsule shells imported from China.
“Our customers told us that they can buy the the imitation product for as low as RM28 from medical halls compared with the original price of RM43,” he said yesterday.
Lee said the original Baike Wan product contained herbal ingredients that could relieve muscle and joint pains. Because of the imitations, the company has renamed its product Edoly Capsules.
On whether fake Edoly Capsules could be produced, Lee said it would be difficult because all products registered with the Drug Control Authority were required to bear a hologram or Meditag.
Lee said his company had lodged reports with the police and the Health Ministry over the imitation products.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the ministry had received complaints from a foreign regulatory agency that Baike Wan from Malaysia contained scheduled poisons such as chlorpheniramine, piroxicam and frusemide.
“Chlorpheniramine is used to treat sinuses, piroxicam is a painkiller and frusemide can cause a drop in blood pressure,” he said in a press statement recently.
“These drugs are not allowed in traditional medicines as they can cause side effects if used without a doctor’s supervision.”
Dr Ismail reminded those with stock to stop sales immediately as it was an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, and carries a maximum fine of RM25,000, three years’ jail or both.
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