Thai F D A Launches Investigation Into Use Of Dodgy Chemicals For Paracetamol Production

[webfact]

Investigation launched into suspect chemicals
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Defence Pharmaceutical Factory (DPF) have detected 44 tonnes of problematic precursor chemicals for paracetamol production, supplied between 2011 and 2012, according to a top official.

"The supplier imported the chemicals from China and delivered them to us," FDA secretary-general Dr Boonchai Somboonsuk said yesterday.

The supplier is a limited partnership based in Thailand.

According to Boonchai, the FDA and DPF bought 385 tonnes of precursor chemicals from this supplier over the 2011-2012 period. Of the amount, 44 tonnes were found to have problems.

"We are now investigating how much of the problematic chemicals the supplier has sent back to China," Boonchai said.

He added that an ongoing investigation suggested that the supplier had destroyed some of the chemicals returned by the FDA and DPF, but that an unspecified amount had already been sold to a drug company.

"From what we know, that company has not used the chemical for production," Boonchai said.

Pasit Sakdanarong, an adviser to the public health minister, said yesterday that he would look into the matter.

"Once we've looked into the case, I will present the relevant information to the minister," said Pasit.

He said any official - current or retired - found to have supplied false information to the public health minister would be punished.

Pasit added that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) had also launched a probe into the case.

Dr Niphon Popattanachai, who heads the Department of Science Service, said the DSI had already contacted his agency for an analysis of the said chemicals.

"We have already submitted the results to the DSI," he said, without elaborating.

-- The Nation 2013-04-20

[Payboy]

The medical hub has problems producing paracetamol. Who would've thought?

[noitom]

The most widely used medication in the world. Astonishing that they would find that 44 tons of "problematic chemicals" were found and returned and that there is no further development of this alarming news by the newspaper. The newspaper takes the comments that there was no further elaboration. And, any officials supplying false information about this would be "punished." Fat chance! Who is kidding who here?

[Locationthailand]

If you have ever tried to get a product certified by FDA here you will realise (like so many others) it is all about payoffs (usually 200,000 Baht and above). A crackdown on 'illegal' products means the ones who have thumbed their noses at the FDA and are selling anyway. Just a consolidation of competition.

[ZhouZhou]

what kind of problems?

problems with the correct paperwork or problems with contamination?

[Konini]

Is it a worry that nobody seems to be worrying about this?

Pretty serious stuff

[h90]

If you have ever tried to get a product certified by FDA here you will realise (like so many others) it is all about payoffs (usually 200,000 Baht and above). A crackdown on 'illegal' products means the ones who have thumbed their noses at the FDA and are selling anyway. Just a consolidation of competition.

I know of a FDA certificate that was issued for a different product.....And it was not in Thailand it was in Europe.

You have 3 products but the certificate is only for one.

[CharlieH]

Its enough to give yiu a headache, but dont take paracetemol....

[Dr Wanchai]

The Chinese have no qualms even on killing their own to make a fast buck. I consider anything from China as suspect.

The trouble here is the paracetamol manufactured from chemicals sourced from China will not show up in the final product.

[PoodMaiDai]

Thailand has an FDA? What do they do all day when they are not sleeping?

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand has an FDA? What do they do all day when they are not sleeping?

Squeeze large overseas cosmetics companies for huge wonga to sell baby lotion.

[HarryMilton]

If you have ever tried to get a product certified by FDA here you will realise (like so many others) it is all about payoffs (usually 200,000 Baht and above). A crackdown on 'illegal' products means the ones who have thumbed their noses at the FDA and are selling anyway. Just a consolidation of competition.

I know of a FDA certificate that was issued for a different product.....And it was not in Thailand it was in Europe.

You have 3 products but the certificate is only for one.

You do? And in Europe, not Thailand? Tell us more, could be relevant to this thread.

[belg]

the concience buddist people of thailand must have destroyed the bad chemical to save lifes of innocent people, right?

or would they just go on and sell it to make a mega buck ?

a bit like ... horse meat (or just plain spoiled) in your pork or chicken ... or in thailand... rat or cat or dog sold as chicken or porc...

Edited April 21, 2013 by belg

[ZhouZhou]

the concience buddist people of thailand must have destroyed the bad chemical to save lifes of innocent people, right?

or would they just go on and sell it to make a mega buck ?

a bit like ... horse meat (or just plain spoiled) in your pork or chicken ... or in thailand... rat or cat or dog sold as chicken or porc...

you can buy rat as rat but no one sells here dog as chicken.