The Department of Health today advised the public not to use two slimming health products, "Fitness Slim 1+1 Oral Liquid" and "Xtra 1 plus 1 Capsules".

The products were found to have contained a Western drug ingredient, sibutramine.  However, they were not registered under the Pharmacy & Poisons Ordinance.

The department has instructed the importer to recall the products from the market and to surrender them to the department.

Sibutramine is an appetite suppressant. Its adverse effects include increased blood pressure and heart rate. People with heart or circulatory system problems should not take it.

People who have purchased the products should immediately stop using them and see a doctor if they feel unwell. They can return them to the importer or submit them to the Pharmaceutical Service of the department at 3/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours.

The department said the possession and sale of unregistered pharmaceutical products was an offence liable to a maximum penalty of $100,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.

For matters relating to the recall, people can call the  products' importer's hotline, 3426 2829.

The department has also set up a hotline, 2319 2839, for other enquiries during office hours from tomorrow.