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Second Recall of Pan Products

2 May 2003

The Minister for Food Safety Minister Annette King is ordering a second 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 notice will be published in New Zealand newspapers as soon as practicable. The first recall notice is being published in newspapers tomorrow (Saturday).

The recall has been ordered under section 40 of the Food Act 1981. (Section 40 attached). The penalties for non-compliance of the recall are a fine of up to $2000 or imprisonment of up to three months.

More than 1300 products have now been recalled in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The second recall in New Zealand involves 691 products manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals.

"It is prudent to recall all the products in New Zealand currently being recalled in Australia. We are working hard to formulate a list of products either manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals or containing ingredients manufactured by that company that are available in New Zealand. This includes products sold under different brand names, " 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."

"We have received about 400 calls to our dietary supplements helpline from people concerned about products they may have been taking. Our helpline 0800 NZFSA1 (0800 693 721) will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week until further notice."

The full list of products is available on our website, www.nzfsa.govt.nz

Ends

 For further comment 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.