February 05, 2013

The Department of Health has ordered licensed wholesaler of proprietary Chinese medicine Fung Wah Company to recall five Chinese medicines found to contain undeclared aconitum alkaloids.
 
They are Yunnan Baiyao capsules (registration number: HKP-00776; batch number: 48911104), Yunnan Baiyao powder (registration number: HKP-00775; batch number: 48971012), Yunnan Baiyao plaster (registration number: HKP-00255; batch number: 48971204), Yunnan Baiyao aerosol (registration number: HKP-00777; batch number: 48971107), and Yunnan Baiyao tincture (registration number: HKP-00805; batch number: 20110101C).
 
Samples of the medicines were found to contain undeclared aconitum alkaloids by the Government Laboratory today. According to the products' registration details and the Chinese medicine literature, the ingredients in the products cannot account for the presence of aconitum alkaloids as detected.
 
The products were manufactured on the Mainland and imported by Fung Wah, and released to the local market for sale.
 
Two related Chinese medicines made by the same Mainland manufacturer and imported by Fung Wah have also been recalled as a precaution. They are Yunnan Baiyao Woundplast (registration number: HKNT-16106), and Yunnan Baiyao Aerosol (Twin pack) (registration number: HKNT-16493).
 
The products are for traumatic injury and muscle pain. Aconitum alkaloids can be toxic. If used improperly, aconitum alkaloids can cause numbness of the mouth and limbs, nausea, vomiting and peripheral weakness, and even lead to life-threatening conditions like breathing difficulties and cardiac arrhythmia.
 
The department has notified Mainland authorities.
 
The wholesaler has set up a hotline at 2553 2170 for enquiries.