Health Department Warns Against Use of Eczevandia Products Due to Undeclared Controlled Ingredients

Public urged not to buy or use two topical products labelled "Eczevandia Cream" and "Eczevandia Baby Cream"

The Department of Health (DH) today (January 9) urged the public not to buy or use two topical products labelled "Eczevandia Cream" and "Eczevandia Baby Cream" (see photo), as they are suspected of containing undeclared controlled drug ingredients.

"The DH received intelligence that the premises of a Listed Seller of Poisons (commonly known as medicine store) in Ho Man Tin was suspected of selling the above products and immediately took follow-up action by purchasing product samples from the premises concerned for analysis. The laboratory test results revealed that the samples of both products contained mometasone furoate, while the sample of "Eczevandia Cream" also contained miconazole. Miconazole and mometasone furoate are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The products are also suspected of being unregistered pharmaceutical products. The DH, in collaboration with the Police, took enforcement action at the premises today. During the operation, a 50-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were arrested for suspected illegal sale and/or possession of Part 1 poisons and unregistered pharmaceutical products," a spokesman for the DH said.

The DH will continue to follow up and investigate the incident.

Mometasone furoate is a steroid substance for treating skin inflammation. Inappropriate or excessive application of steroids could cause skin problems and body-wide side effects such as moon face, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, muscle atrophy, adrenal insufficiency and osteoporosis. Miconazole is used for the treatment of fungal infection with side effects that include local irritation and sensitivity reactions. Products containing miconazole should be supplied in the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (i.e. pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, while products containing mometasone furoate should be used under a doctor's directions and be supplied in a 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 is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. Upon completion of the investigation, the DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters and will also refer the case to the Board for any necessary disciplinary action," the spokesman said.

The DH spokesman strongly urged members of the public not to buy or use products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. 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 using them immediately and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or if they feel unwell after use. 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," the spokesman said.

Public urged not to buy or use two topical products labelled "Eczevandia Cream" and "Eczevandia Baby Cream" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Arrangement for the collection and recycling of waste plastics

​The "Pilot Scheme on Collection and Recycling Services of Plastic Recyclable Materials" (Pilot Scheme) of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will conclude on January 18 this year. The EPD announced today (January 9) the latest arrangements on the collection and recycling of waste plastics.

A spokesman for the EPD said: "Since there is duplication of resources with regard to plastics recycling between the Pilot Scheme and the GREEN@COMMUNITY, it is decided to conclude the Pilot Scheme on January 18, and relevant plastics recycling services will be taken over by the GREEN@COMMUNITY recycling network of respective districts."

The spokesman said, "Apart from reducing duplicated work, future GREEN@COMMUNITY operators may pass the collected plastics to any EPD-approved recyclers for handling, rather than merely the three designated recyclers under the Pilot Scheme, allowing for an open competitive market for the recycling industry, reducing the costs of collection and recycling waste plastics."

The Pilot Scheme commenced in the Eastern, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin districts in January 2020, and was extended to the Tai Po, Sai Kung, Central and Western, Sham Shui Po, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun districts in January 2022. Its work includes complementing with public education, driving people's behavioural change, enhancing public confidence in waste plastics recycling, collecting non-commercial and non-industrial waste plastics in nine districts and collecting waste plastics from three of these districts.

Since end 2020, the Government has gradually expanded the GREEN@COMMUNITY, whose work is to enhance public education on recycling as a whole, drive people's behavioural change, reinforce public confidence in recycling, and start establishing a recycling network across 18 districts to provide recycling services to housing estates for the collection of nine types of recyclables, including waste plastics. There is duplication in various aspects between the work of GREEN@COMMUNITY and the Pilot Scheme.

Under the new arrangements, not only will the plastics collection services for housing estates under the Pilot Scheme remain unaffected, the GREEN@COMMUNITY operators can also liaise with these housing estates for more flexible collection services for plastics, as well as other recyclables, enhancing the cost-effectiveness, with an estimated cost reduction of about 24 per cent as compared with the Pilot Scheme.

Looking forward, the Government will introduce a licensing scheme through the bill on establishing a common legislative framework for producer responsibility schemes to regulate plastic recyclers with regard to the types of waste plastics to be treated, treatment methods, recycling and disposal quantities, environmental impacts etc., to urge the recycling industry to aim for high-quality development as a goal and convert more waste into valuable resources. The relevant bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny in the first half of this year.

Arrangement for the collection and recycling of waste plastics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Arrangement for the collection and recycling of waste plastics Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases