A total of 21 proprietary Chinese medicines have been found containing aristolochic acid. Distributors must cease the import and sale of these products and recall the products from the market, the Department of Health says.

For a list of the products, click here.

The acid is associated with kidney failure and cancer of the urinary tract. To safeguard public health, the Chinese Medicine Council decided earlier that from June 1, the import and sale of proprietary Chinese medicines containing aristolochic acid is prohibited. It will not approve applications for registration of such products.

It has instructed manufacturers of these products to recall the products from the market.

People who have purchased the products should stop using them, dispose of them or surrender them to the distributors or the department's Chinese Medicines Section on the second floor, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon. For enquiries call 2319 5119.

The department has not received any adverse reports from the public associated with the use of these products. It reminds members of the public to consult Chinese medicine practitioners before taking Chinese medicine.