Sennosides drugs recalled

The Department of Health instructed Welfore Co Ltd, to recall four of its sennosides drugs from shelves as market surveillance conducted by DH pharmaceutical inspectors found that a sample failed the disintegration test.

The four drugs, Welfore Senna Forte Tab 17mg, Wel Health Strong Senna Tab 17mg , Legend Senna Extra Tab 17mg and Senno Forte Tab 17mg, are actually one and the same pharmaceutical product, manufactured in the United States and imported into Hong Kong for sale over the counter for the relief of constipation. According to the product specifications, the drugs should disintegrate within 30 minutes.

Investigation revealed that since the products were registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, only one shipment has been made.

"Here, contravention of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, selling a drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser, might have occurred. The maximum penalty involved is $10,000 and three months' imprisonment," a DH spokesperson said.