NBI 7 raid the Yu Lian Merchandising Store of suspected fake beauty products. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Are you trying to lose weight by taking anti-obesity pills or “slimming” coffee?
Be careful.
Two stores in downtown Cebu City were raided yesterday for selling China-manufactured products that are banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for containing ingredients that pose serious health risks.
At least five banned products, including Hokkaido Slimming Pills being sold for P170 per box, were seized by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas.
Simultaneous raids were made on Yu Lian Merchandising Store in Manalili Street and Beauty Shape Cosmetics along Sanciangko Street.
Store employees and two foreign nationals with Chinese features were brought to the NBI-7 office for further questioning.
In 2012, the FDA ordered the recall, ban and seizure from public sale of at least 26 products that contain amphetamine, sibutramine or steroids.
The products, manufactured in China, are being marketed in capsule and powder form.
(See complete list of FDA-banned weight loss products.)
HEART ATTACKS
Products containing sibutramine are no longer allowed in the Philippine market due to the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes under FDA Memorandum Circular 2010-019. A study also showed there was no significant weight loss by using pills with sibutramine.
Amphetamine is classified as a dangerous drug. It causes irregular heartbeat, severe agitation and tremors. Fatal amphetamine poisoning leads to convulsion and coma, said the FDA. Steroids are prescription drugs.
Hokkaido Slimming pills, also labeled “Pill for Weight Reduction”, were also being advertised and sold online. This prompted the FDA to call the attention of a popular Philippine retail website last January for promoting the pills.
NBI-7 Regional Director Max Salvador said the downtown Cebu City stores raided yesterday are registered under the names of Rinir Luchavez and Maricar Panerio but agents are verifying the identities.
The stores were padlocked for the meantime by the NBI 7. Salvador said it was up to the Department of Health to take steps to stop further operations of the stores.
FDA officers earlier sought the NBI 7’s assistance to investigate the stores.
After a month of surveillance and some test-buys, the NBI led by Agent Donaver Inesin, raided both stores past 9 a.m. yesterday.
The NBI brought a search warrant issued by Judge Gilbert Moises of the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Cebu City.
Seized from Yu Lian Merchandising Store were 100 boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills, Pearl White Slimming Capsule (20 boxes), Perfect Figure Slimming Capsule (3 boxes), Leisure 18 and Slimming Coffee (51 boxes); and Slimming Beauty Capsule (5 boxes).
From the store Beauty Shape Cosmetics, the NBI confiscated 11 boxes of Hokkaido Slimming Pills and other banned weight loss products.
The items will be submitted for laboratory examination.
The NBI will file charges for violation of Republic Act 3720 or the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act against those responsible for selling unregistered and banned weight-loss products.
The FDA advised consumers to only use anti-obesity products approved by the FDA and under the supervision of doctors.
Local government units should also report outlets and establishments selling banned products, said the health agency.
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NBI raids two stores, seize slimming products