Health Department Arrests Woman for Selling Banned Slimming Products on Social Media

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients

​In response to suspected illegal sales of slimming products containing banned and undeclared controlled drug ingredients on social media platforms, the Department of Health (DH) today (December 11) carried out enforcement operations in Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po with the Police. During the operations, a 27-year-old woman was arrested.

Acting upon intelligence, the DH had earlier purchased samples oftwo slimming products via an instant messaging application and sent them to the Government Laboratory for analysis. The test results revealed that one capsule sample, packaged in a black plastic container labelled "HELLO GIRL time to show your figure" (see photo 1), contained sibutramine and frusemide. The other capsule sample, packaged in an unlabelled blue plastic container (see photo 2), contained sibutramine, N-desmethylsibutramine and frusemide. All three ingredients are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The two products concerned are also suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.

The DH urged members of the public who have purchased the products concerned to stop consuming them immediately, and reminded the public not to buy or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. The DH will continue to investigate the incident and take appropriate follow-up actions.

Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant. Since November 2010, pharmaceutical products containing sibutramine have been banned for use and sale in Hong Kong due to an increased cardiovascular risk. N-desmethylsibutramine is a substance structurally similar to sibutramine. Frusemide is used for the treatment of heart diseases, and its side effects include low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance. Medicines containing frusemide should be used under a doctor's direction and be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (i.e. pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.

According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

The DH reminded members of the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.

People who have purchased the products concerned should stop consuming them immediately and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or if they feel unwell after consumption. They may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1804-06, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.

Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for "Health message on overweight problem and slimming products" and "Slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients" for information.

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Enforcement collaboration between HKMA and SFC - SFC reprimands and fines EFG Bank AG HK$10.85 million for regulatory breaches and internal control failures

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has reprimanded and fined EFG Bank AG (EFG) HK$10.85 million for failures relating to product due diligence, record-keeping and late reporting between January 2015 and December 2020 (Relevant Period) (Notes 1 and 2).

The SFC's investigation stemmed from a self-report from EFG and a referral of findings from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) (Note 3).

Regarding product due diligence, EFG failed to take into account special features of various products when conducting such assessment on 322 bonds and update its internal policies to reflect regulatory changes in a timely manner. It also failed to ensure that sufficient information and warning statements relating to the distribution of certain complex products were provided to customers before or at the point of each transaction.

As for record keeping and late reporting, EFG failed to keep product due diligence records for 141 bonds, and it did not immediately report to the SFC its product due diligence failures when it first suspected of them in July 2020 (Note 4).

In deciding the sanctions, the SFC took into account all relevant circumstances, including:

EFG has taken remedial measures to enhance its product due diligence framework;

EFG's cooperation with the HKMA and the SFC in resolving the concerns identified in the investigations; and

EFG will implement Enhanced Complaint Handling Procedures (ECHP) to review complaints from customers who have acquired the affected products during the Relevant Period (Note 5).

A copy of the Statement of Disciplinary Action (appended with a list of the 351 products) is available on theSFC website.

Note 1: This press release is issued jointly by the SFC and the HKMA.

Note 2: EFG is registered to carry on Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.

Note 3: The HKMA referred its findings to the SFC following an investigation into EFG's self-report on its product due diligence failures.

Note 4: Contrary to the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC and the Management, Supervision and Internal Control Guidelines for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the SFC.

Note 5: The ECHP is designed to ensure that EFG conducts an intensive review into the relevant transactions to ensure that complaints are resolved in a fair and reasonable manner. According to an impact assessment by EFG, it might have failed to take into account special features for 351 products when conducting product due diligence during the Relevant Period. EFG shall apply the ECHP to any complaints which may be made by customers who have acquired any of these 351 products during the Relevant Period.

Source: AI-found images