Aussie drug recall: 346 items ordered off shelves

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30:  The Malaysian Drug Control Authority has ordered that all 346 products of Pan Pharmaceuticals Limited, Australis largest contract manufacturer of healthcare and pharmaceutical products, be taken off the shelves with immediate effect

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif said the order was issued for the safety of Malaysians taking into account the potential risk the products have on consumers.

He advised consumers to refrain from taking the health products until further notice.

Some of the popular brands are Kordel's, 21st Century, American Nutritionals, Australian Nutritionals and Nature's Farm.

However, most distributors have removed the products from the shelves.

Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd senior product manager Julia Ng said the company had issued two notices asking its stockists to stop selling the products.

"We are just following orders as imposed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia." The precautionary measure was taken after TGA, Australia's national regulator for medicines and other health goods, suspended Pan Pharmaceuticals' licence for six months after a series of safety and quality breaches of some of their medicines made for the Australian market.

TGA also issued a recall order  Australia's biggest drug recall  of 219 Australian products.

The regulatory body also cancelled 1,650 "export only" medicines which the company manufactured for the worldwide market.

Last night, Australian health authorities continued to advise consumers not to take vitamins or herbal supplement for now.

Travacalm, a travel sickness tablet, is understood to have originally sparked the TGA investigation. Dosages varied up to 700 per cent higher than on the label.

It was reported that some Travacalm users had hallucinations that made them want to jump out of the planes. Dr Taha directed all registered owners, distributors, importers, wholesalers, retailers and direct selling companies to check their stocks and stop the sale of the suspended products.

He also urged all those involved in one way or another in the sale of the suspended products to ensure that the products were off the shelves with immediate effect.

Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president John C.P. Chang said consumers should not panic over the suspension and recall of the products as it was done only to protect them against any risk.

by Annie Freeda Cruez & Zulita Mustafa
The New Straits Times Press
30th Apr 2003

LIST OF THE RECALLED PRODUCTS OF PAN PHARMACEUTICALS LTD, AUSTRALIA AND MALAYSIAN REGISTERED OWNERS
3 G's TABLET Malayan Pharm Sdn Bhd
ALOE VERA CONCENTRATE Twenty First Century Products Sdn Bhd
AMERICAN NUTRITIONAL Kuala Lumpur Pharmacy (w.o) Sdn Bhd
Bio-Rei-Shi Mushroom Tablet, Eyebright Complex, Gingko Gold
AMERICAN NUTRITIONAL Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
Aloe Vera Plus Tablet, Brewers Yeast,Celery Complex, Dandelion
ComplexTablet, Echinacea 500, Evening Primrose Oil 1000MG,
Primrose Oil 600MG, Fresh Royal Jelly 1000MG, Ginseng Pollen Tablet,
Gotu Kola, Herbal Purifier, Herbal Skin Formula, Horseradish Complex,
Korean Ginseng Gold, Nite Diet Tablet, Oat Bran 500 Tablet, Oriental
Ginseng Complex, Royal Concorde Gold, Royal Pollen Bee, Shark Cartilage
750MG, Siberian Ginseng 1000, Total Man Tablet,Total Woman Tablet,
Wild American Ginseng Softgel
AMINOBOLICS CAPSULE Somedico Sdn Bhd
APEVIT TABLET Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
AUSTRALIAN NUTRIRIONAL Pharm-Pak Labs Sdn Bhd
Aloe Vera Plus Tablet
AUSTRALIAN NUTRIRIONAL Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
Siberian Ginseng 1000 Tablet, Fever Few Complex Tablet, Ginseng
Pollen, Herbal Skin Formula, Brewers Yeast Tablet 225MG, Gingko 2000
Tablet 200MG, Gotu Kola 500 Capsule, Korean Ginseng 3000 Tablet,
Royal Concorde Forte, Wild American Ginseng 300MG Capsule,
Echinacea 500
BETA CAROTENE 10,000 IU TABLET Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
BRONCHO-ADE TABLET Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
CALCIUM-PLUS TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
CARNITINE-PLUS TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
CELERY SEED OIL 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CHEWABLE C-500MG TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
CHILDREN'S Chewable Calcium 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CHILDREN'S Chewable Multi Vitamins* 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CHILDREN'S Formula Chewable Calc.Tab Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
CHILDREN'S Multivitamins and Minerals  Tasty Orange 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CHILD-VITE Tablets Wellmex Sdn Bhd
CHITOSAN 750MG Tablet Discount Drug Store Sdn Bhd
CHITOSIL Capsule 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CIRCU-PLUS Capsule Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
CO ENZYME Q10 30MG Water Solubilized 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
CO-ENZYME Q10 30MG Cosway (M) Sdn BHd
COSMOS HEALTHCARE Malayan Pharmaceutical Sdn Bhd
Dong Quai 300MG, Dong Quai 500MG,
Palmetto Plus, E Superton
C-VITA 1000MG F/C Tablet, 250MG Tablet, 500MG Film-coated Tablet Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
DERMA NUTRITION 1 Cosmedipharm Services
DERMA NUTRITION 2 Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
EASIDAY TABLET Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
ECHIWA-PLEX TABLET Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
ENERGY PLUS TABLET 925MG Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 1000MG 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 1000MG Capsule Bio-Value Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 500MG Capsule 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 500MG Capsule Wellmex Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 500MG Capsule Wellmex Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 500MG Capsule Bio-Value Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 600MG Capsule Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 600MG Capsule 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
E-VITA 600IU Vitaron Jaya (M) Sdn Bhd
EYEBRIGHT PLUS TABLET Grosway (M) Sdn Bhd
EZITRIM (TABLET) Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
FRUITIMINS (BLACKCURRANT) CHEWABLE TABLET Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
FRUITIMINS (ORANGE) TABLET,CHEWABLE TABLET Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
GARLIC 20,000 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
GINKGO 750MG + G 100MG TABLET Wellmex Sdn Bhd
GINKGO BILOBA 2000 CAPSULE (NATURE'S FARM BRAND) Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
GINKGO BILOBA EXTRACT 60MG TABLET Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
GINKGO FORTE TABLET Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
GOLD CROSS NATURAL HORSERADISH AND GARLIC TABLETS Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd
GOLDEN YEARS TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
HERBAL ATO 820MG TABLET Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
HERBAL FORMULA (CAPSULE) Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
HERBALAX TABLET Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
HIMEE VITAMIN C 250MG TABLET(CHEW*) Wellmex Sdn Bhd
INOSINE CAPSULE Somedico Sdn Bhd
INOSINE TABLET 500MG Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd
IRON COMPLEX Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
IRON-PLUS TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
JUNIOR DHA COMPLEX Cosmedipharm Services
KALCIMEX-D TABLETS Wellmex Sdn Bhd
KELP EXTRACT 350MG Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
KORDEL Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd
Chewable C 250MG Tablet, Royal Jelly, Ginseng & Poll*,Alpha-Lipoic
Acid 100MG Capsule, Antioxidant Formula Capsule, Arizona Garlic 1000MG Tablet, Arizona Garlic 1000MG Tablet,
Arthro-Rite Tablet, Arthro-Rite Tablets, Bilberry 3000 Capsule, Bilberry 3000 Capsule (Second Source), Bilberry
Complex Capsule, Breath-Eze Capsule, Brewers Yeast Tablet 500MG, C Time Acid Free C 1000MG, Calci-Plus Tablet
Calcium & Magnesium Tablet, Celery 3000 Plus Tablet, Celery 3000 Plus Tablet, Chewable C 250MG Tablet, Cod
Liver Oil Enriched with Salmon Oil Capsule, Co-Enzyme Q10 Plus Capsule with
Evening Primrose Oil & Salmon, Cranberry Plus Tablet, Digestive Formula
Tablet, Dong Quai Tablet, Dong Quai Tablets, Echinacea & Garlic Tablet,
Echinacea Formula with Antioxidants Tablet, Echinacea Plus Capsule,
Evening Primrose Oil 1000MG Capsule, Evening Primrose Oil 500MG
Capsule, Executive B Plus C Tablet, Executive B Tablet, Eyebright Plus Tablet,
Feverfew & Willow Tablet, Feverfew 250MG & Willow 500MG Tablet, Fibre
Plus Tablet, Flaxseed Oil 1000MG Capsule Garlic 3000MG Capsule ,Garlic
3000MG Capsule, Garlic 4500 Capsule (Second), Ginger 2000 Tablet,
Gingko Biloba 750MG Tablet, Gingko 2500 Plus Capsule, Gingko
Biloba 2500 Capsule, Ginkgo Biloba 2500 Capsule (Second), Ginkgo
Biloba 750MG Tablet, Grape Seed 6000 Capsule, Grape Seed 6000
Capsule, Horseradish Complex Tablet, Horseradish Complex Tablet,
Horsetail Tablet 500MG, Horsetail Tablet 500MG, Junior Lysine Plus
Tablet, Junior Time Multivitamins & Minerals, Lecithin PS Capsule,
Livertone Tablet, Male Formula Capsule Mega Ginkgo Plus Tablet,
Mega Ginkgo Plus Tablet, MenTomex Capsule Milk Thistle 100MG
Tablet, Milk Thistle 100MG Tablet, Multi-Herbaplex
Tablet,Nutritime (New Formula) Tablet, Nutritime Plus Ginseng
Tablet, Nutritime Tablet Pre & Post NatalFormula Capsule, Prime
Time Gold Capsule, Primrose Marine Capsule, Primrose Marine
Capsulem, Progard Capsule Protectamon Chewable Tablet, Royal
Jelly 1000 Effervescent Tablet, Royal Jelly 1000MG Capsule (Second),
Royal Jelly, Ginseng & Bee Pollen Plus Tablet, Salmon Oil
1000MG Capsule Enteric-Coated, Selenium Ace Tablet,
Skelemon Chewable Tablet, Skin Clear Tablet, Skin
Clear Tablet, Soya Force Tablet, Spirulina 1000
Tablet, Spirulina 1000MG Tablet (Second), Tea
Tree Plus Lozenges, Tea Tree Plus
Lozenges,Time Acid Free C 1000MG
Tablet, Tribulus 1000 Tablet, Tuna Oil
1000MG Capsule, Vitamin E 200 IU
PRODUCT REGISTERED OWNER
Capsule, Vitamin E 400 IU Capsule, Vitamon Chewable Tablet, Womens
Herbal Complex Tablet, Zingo Tablet, Zingo Tablet (Second Source)
LADIES POLLEN Supplement Tablet Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
LECITHIN 1200MG 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
LECITHIN Omega Complex 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
LECITHIN Plus E 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
LINCHI Tablet 150MG Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
LIPO Complex Tablet 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
LIPOGARD Tablet Kuala Lumpur Pharmacy (W.O) Sdn Bhd
LIPOHERBAL Tablet 860MG Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
MAXI CAL 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
MEN FORMULA TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
MENO-LIFE TABLET Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
NATURAL BETACAROTENE 6MG 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
NATURAL NUTRITION Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
Ar-Eze Tablet 900MG, Derm-Ade (Tablet), Evening Primrose 1000,
Evening Primrose 500MG Capsule, Ey-Ade (Tablet) 340MG, Garli-T
(Tablet), Liv-Ade (Tablet), Migre-Eze (Tablet) 1550MG, Omegar (Tablet),
Remem (Tablet) 1GM, S-R (Tablet) 1150MG, Swede Bitters+(Tablet)
490MG, Sinu-Eze (Tablet) 850MG
NATURAL ROYAL JELLY 250MG (Tablet) Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
NATURAL VITAMIN E200IU Softgel Capsule 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
NATURAL VITAMIN E 400IU Softgel Capsule 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
NATURE'S FARM Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
Buffered C-1000 Slow Release Tablet, Buffered C-500 Slow Release
Tablet, Evening Primrose 1300MG Softgel, Evening Primrose Oil 500 MG,
Softget Royal Jelly 1000 Capsule, Royal Jelly 500 Capsule, Sunflower
Softgel
NATURE'S HERBAL Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd
Evening Primrose Oil Capsule 500MG, Evening Primrose Oil Capsule
1000MG, Fish Oil Capsule 1000MG, Garlic Oil Capsule 3000MG
NATURES WAY Cal Mag Ascobate C-100* Nicholas Kiwi (M) Sdn Bhd
NATURES WAY Roche (M) Sdn Bhd
Calcium Ascobate Total*, Horseradish 500 Complex Tablet
NAVITA Direct Circle Corp Sdn Bhd
EPO 1000 Capsule, EPO 500 Capsule, Pollen Tablet, Propolis ,
Royal Kid Tablet, STR Formula Tablet
NEUREX TABLET Wellmex Sdn Bhd
NIGHT TIME TABLET Wellmex Sdn Bhd
NON-ACIDIC C Plus Tablet Cosway (M) Sdn BHd
NUTRA-HEALTH L-Arginine Tablet 500MG Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd
NUTRA-HEALTH L-Ornithine Tablet 500MG Cambert (M) Sdn Bhd
NUTRALAX Tablet 750MG Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
NUTRIBRAIN Capsule 160MG Robust Marketing Sdn Bhd
NUTRITION CARE Diethelm (M) Sdn Bhd
Arthasal Tablet, Brontene Tablet, Dermatal Tablet, Diastat Tablet,
Femex Tablet, Gingkoseng Tablet, Ginkola Tablet, Malgeum Tablet,
Migrotan Tablet, Preparine Tablet
OCEAN NUTRIENTS Tablet Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
OMEGA 3 1000MG 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
OMEGA-3 Fish Oil Natural 1G Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
OPTICAL CAPSULE Somedico Sdn Bhd
ORANGE C 1000MG, 100MG, 250 MG, 500MG Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
PLUS CAPSULES 100MG Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
PRENATAL FORMULA TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
PRIMOL 500MG Capsule Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
PRIMOLIN 1000 Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
PRIMOLIN 600 Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
PROPOLIS 500MG Cosmedipharm Services
PROPOLIS 650MG Softgel Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
PROS-CARE 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
R.D.A. Multivitamins & Minerals Tablet NZ New Image Sdn Bhd
RESCUE Tablet 770MG Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
REVITA Tablet Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
RHEUMA_Eze Tablets Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
ROBOVITES KIDS Garlic Plus Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
ROBOVITES KIDS Royal Jelly Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
ROYAL JELLY 500MG 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
ROYAL JELLY PLUS Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
ROYALLINE 1000MG Capsule, 500MG Capsule Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
SALMON FISH OIL 1000MG Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
SELENIUM VITAPLUS TABLET F/C Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
SHARK CARTILAGE 750MG Natures Farm (Health Foods) Sdn Bhd
SILVERON TABLET Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
SKIN CLEANSER TABLET 770MG Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
SPIRU-LEEN Chocolate Flavour Tablet, Strawberry Flavour Tablet Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
STAR FLOWER OIL 500 Capsule 850MG Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
SUPA EPA Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
TAKEE SUN Tablet Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
TEEN FORMULA Tablet Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
TOP-ADE Tablet Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
TOTAL CLEANSE (Tablet) Fountain Life Products (M) Sdn Bhd
TRN Mega (C-Vita) Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
TRN Mega B (Time Release Capsule) Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
TUNA OIL 1000MG Cosmedipharm Services
TUNA OIL 500MG Capsules Bio-Value Sdn Bhd
VEGETARIAN FORMULA TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
VIT C 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
1000 Natural Orange Flavour Tablet , 250 Natural Orange Flavour,
500 Natural Orange Flavour
VITA Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
Celery Plus, Cod Liver Oil with Vit A & D Softgel Capsule, Echinacea
1000MG Tablet, Echinacea 500, Eyebright Plus, Feverfew Plus Tablet,
Ginkgo 2000, Horseradish Plus, Juniors Apivita (Chewable Tablet), Korean
Ginseng 3000MG Tablet, Lingzi Forte, Passiflora Plus, Robovites Chewable
Tablet Blackcurrant Flavour, Robovites Chewable Tablet Orange Flavour
Royal Jelly 500MG/Panax Ginseng 500MG, Shark Cartilage 750MG Tablet
St Johns Wort 2000 Tablet, TRN Mega B+C Tablet, Vitacal 250, Vitacal
600 Capsule,
VITAMIN B Complex Plus C Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN B Complex Tablet Groway (M) Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN B Complex Tablet Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN C 500MG (Acerola C 500MG) Mode Circle Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN C Plus Tablet NZ New Image Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN C-1000 Prolonged Release Tablet 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
VITAMIN C-500 Prolonged Release Tablet 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
VITANATAL Tablet Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
VITARON Tablet Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
VITATON CAPSUTAB Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
WATE-ON TABLET Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
WELTOLIN MULTIVITAMIN TABLET Wellmex Sdn Bhd
WELTOLIN MULTIVITAMIN TABLET Wellmex Sdn Bhd
WOMENS MULTI VITE with Evening Primrose Oil 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd
WONDER LIVING AUSTRALIAN NATURAL Epo-Plus Tablet Darene Holdings Sdn Bhd
WONDER LIVING AUSTRALIAN NATURAL Evening Primrose 600MG Darene Holdings Sdn Bhd
ZINC GLUCONATE 75MG Vitaron Jaya Sdn Bhd
ZINC-220 Buffered, Chelated Tablet 21st Century Products Sdn Bhd