Jingzhi Kesou Tanchuan; Guanxin Suhe capsules; Qing Re An Cang Wan; and Guan Xin Su He

Foreign Product Alert
2008-19
February 6, 2008
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the products specified below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

Date of alert: February 6, 2008
Source of Alert: UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Product Name: Jingzhi Kesou Tanchuan; Guanxin Suhe capsules; Qing Re An Cang Wan; and Guan Xin Su He

Manufacturer / Place of Origin
Unknown manufacturers / unknown places of origin

Product Description
Jingzhi Kesou Tanchuan, Guanxin Suhe capsules, Qing Re An Cang Wan and Guan Xin Su He are natural health products of unknown indication.

Reason for Warning
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency alerted health professionals and the public about products that were found to contain Aristolochia plant species, including Jingzhi Kesou Tanchuan, Guanxin Suhe capsules, Qing Re An Cang Wan and Guan Xin Su He. Plant species of the genus Aristolochia contain aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring toxin associated with serious and potentially fatal health effects.

Possible Side Effects
Health risks associated with the use of aristolochic acid include cancer and kidney failure.

-30-

Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.

---

This product is not authorized for sale in Canada and has not been found in the Canadian marketplace. However, it is possible this product could be purchased by Canadians travelling abroad or has been brought into Canada through personal importation by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find any of the products listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.