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Recall of Pan Products

1 May 2003

The Minister for Food Safety Minister Annette King is ordering the recall of products manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals Ltd that have been recalled in Australia.

The NZFSA has prepared for publication a recall notice and is advising people to stop taking the products being recalled.

The recall has been ordered under section 40 of the Food Act 1981. (Section 40 attached).

More than 600 products have now been recalled in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The TGA recalled 219 products in Australia on Tuesday, and yesterday it recalled a further 449 products.

"While the initial recall of 219 products did not contain any that were on sale in New Zealand, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority is aware that there are some in this further recall that are available in New Zealand," said NZFSA Director of Policy and Regulatory Standards Carole Inkster.

"The health of New Zealanders is of the utmost importance in this issue and it is imperative that products on this latest list are taken off the shop shelves. People should stop taking the products contained in this list immediately and either return them to the retailer where they bought them or dispose of them."

The list of products being recalled will be sent to major daily newspapers today for publication as soon as possible. In the meantime the list is being supplied to the media and it is on the NZFSA website: www.nzfsa.govt.nz.

"Some New Zealand companies have already taken a responsible approach to this issue and withdrawn products from sale before a recall was issued. If people have concerns about any other products that may have been manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals they should stop taking them. They can contact the supplier, who will be listed on the product, and ask for an assurance that it does not contain any Pan Pharmaceutical products or ingredients," Carole Inkster said.

Anyone with any concerns or queries on this issue can contact the NZFSA on 0800NZFSA1 (0800 693 721) or visit the NZFSA website. That phone line will be operating till 8pm tonight and again tomorrow.

In the meantime the NZFSA is continuing to gather information about companies that import Pan products into New Zealand.

Ends

Contact: Carole Inkster, 04 463 2505 or 021 241 2455 or Sharon Williams, Senior Communications Advisor, 04 463 2528 or 021 193 6405 (NZFSA).

Section 40 Food Act 1981

Recall of food

(1) The Minister may, for the purpose of protecting the public, issue to any importer, manufacturer, or seller of food, an order directing the recall of any food or appliance, or requiring the destruction or denaturing of any food that is unsound or unfit for human consumption or is damaged or deteriorated or perished, or that is contaminated with any poisonous, deleterious, or injurious substance.

(2) The importer, manufacturer, or seller shall, on receipt of the recall order, advise the Minister of the details of the manner in which he proposes to comply with the order, and shall give written notice to the Minister when the recall has been completed.

(3) Every person commits an offence against this Act who fails to comply in any respect with any of the provisions of this section or any order issued under this section.