Head of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Food Administration Nguyen Thanh Phong has sent a document to its municipal and provincial sub-departments and heads of food safety management boards in big cities such as HCMC, the Central City of Da Nang and the northern province of Bac Ninh ordering to supervise Sibutramine-containing food.
In its document, the Department said the substance is banned for its side- effects; notwithstanding, related agencies has discovered sibutramine-containing slimming pills recently. These products were recalled according to the regulation.
To strictly follow the Prime Minister’s resolution No. 17/CT-TTg issued in June 19, 2018 on fighting against smuggling, frauds in trade, sales of fake and low-quality pharmaceutical products to protect consumers’ health condition, departments of health in the country must take same for testing especially taking heed to Sibutramine.
Once violations are detected, penalties will be imposed as per the present law.
European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration noted the concerns that sibutramine increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease.
Following warnings about dangers of Sibutramine –containing products, the Drug Administration of Vietnam banned import of the substance on June 8, 2010. Next, on April 14, 2011, the administration decided to stop circulation of the substance-containing products and recalled all.
