Junta Warns against Some Imported Medicine, Toothpaste

Burma’s ruling junta has warned residents to avoid using some brands of medicine and toothpaste imported from China, Thailand and the Philippines, which it has deemed “unsafe” because they may contain poisonous chemicals, according to shop owners in northern Burma and state-run press reports.

“On Tuesday, officials came to our shop and asked that I sign a statement agreeing not to sell five types of medicine and four brands of toothpaste imported from China and the Philippines, which were previously identified in the state-run press,” said a store owner in Bhamo, eastern Kachin State, about 30 miles from the Chinese border, told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

“The statement ordered us to destroy existing stocks of medicine and toothpaste and not to sell them anymore,” the store owner added.

Another store owner in Bhamo said authorities have warned businesspeople that a special investigation group will be checking every store in Bhamo and that legal action will be taken against anyone found selling the banned medicine and toothpaste.

Recent steps to halt the sale of suspect imports come nearly a month after the government announced a ban on five types of medicine produced in Thailand and four brands of toothpaste imported from China and the Philippines.

In a report by the state-run Burmese language daily newspaper The Mirror, the country’s Ministry of Health warned citizens to avoid using medicine and toothpaste illegally imported from neighboring countries.

The report said that the banned imports contained diethylene glycol, sometimes used as substantially cheaper substitute for glycerine in food and pharmaceutical products but that is highly toxic to humans.

The Burmese government’s warning also follows reports last month that the US, Japan, Singapore and other Asian countries recalled a toothpaste brand made in China and said to have been contaminated. The US and Thailand have also issued warnings about other Chinese-made products such as toys and clothing that are said to contain toxic chemicals.

Burma imports numerous Chinese products—legally and illegally—from various cross border routes. Most of the imports are cheap consumer electronics, processed food and agricultural equipment.

“Most people in Burma use Chinese products regardless of the quality or legal restrictions because of their cheaper price,” a Rangoon-based doctor told The Irrawaddy. “Even we, doctors, have to rely on Chinese products in our clinics,” he added.

The military-ruled country’s Food and Drug Advisory does not have enough resources to control the quality of all imported goods, the English language weekly newspaper The Myanmar Times reported in late July, quoting FDA Director Dr Kyaw Lin.

The Rangoon-based doctor said the FDA is also prone to corruption, with some companies bribing officials to get products licensed. Other companies, the doctor claims, only register with the governmental body when they turn a profit.

“There are many popular medicines that are similar to registered ones,” the doctor said. “Here is an example. A legally imported anti-rabies medicine that is legally imported might sell for 2,500 kyat (US $1.88), while a similar unregistered medicine will sell on the black market for only 1,200 kyat (90 US cents).”

The doctor added: “My wife, who is a doctor, even used an expired Thai eye drop medicine.”

Without adequate laboratories and systematic research, the FDA cannot adequately control the quality of food and drugs in the Burma, the doctor concluded.

“Burma should use high-tech laboratories to control the quality of products, so that consumers can trust the FDA to tell them which products are safe,” the doctor said.

The five Thai-produced medicines being banned in Burma include the following: Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Injection, 50ml (for veterinary use), produced by A.N.B Co., Ltd; Paracetamol, 500mg, produced by Asian Union Laboratory Co., Ltd; Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C 50mg), produced by A.N.H Products Ltd; Cyproheptadine Hydrochloride (Cyproheptadine HCL Anhydrous 4mg), produced by New Life Pharma Co., Ltd; and Tiffy Syrup (N-Acetyl-Paminophenol 120mg, Phenylephrine HCL 5mg Chlorpheniramine Maleate 1mg/5ml), produced by Thai Nakorn Patana Co., Ltd.

In addition to medicine, Burmese authorities have also banned the following brands of toothpaste: Nobege Toothpaste, produced by Paliry Everyday Use Co., Philippines Ltd and Shanghai Toothpaste with Sodium, produced by Shanghai White Cat Shareholding Co.,Ltd. Two additional brands by unknown companies have also been banned: White Men Toothpaste (Strawberry flavor) and an unidentified brand in a green tube that has the Chinese word “Hkayanchi” on the packaging.