As a customer, our station has inquired about some merchants selling NMN health care products. Some merchants claim that the ingredients of the products sold are helpful for the treatment of cancer. In addition, some merchants claim that after taking it, it helps to regulate the body. Even if infected with the new crown virus, it can be faster than ordinary people recovery. However, some specialist doctors and pharmacists pointed out that there is no evidence to prove that the relevant products can prevent and treat human cancer and the new crown.
According to the Consumer Council, from 2019 to November this year, it received 12 complaints related to NMN, and there were 8 cases in the first 11 months of this year. The complaints involved sales methods, product quality, etc. There are complaints about buying NMN-related products in online stores. After taking them, the face is severely drooped and the mouth is swollen. They suspect that they have bought fake products.
At present, health food is regulated by a number of laws in Hong Kong, including the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, and the Undesirable Advertisements (Medicine) Ordinance, etc. Huang Fengxian, the chief executive of the Consumer Council, said that if the relevant product statement mentioned the specified disease or pathology, and made exaggerated publicity and promotion, it may violate the law. He called on manufacturers and distributors to pay special attention to the promotion of claims, and also have the responsibility to take reasonable measures. Measures to ensure authenticity and reliability of certification.
Customs said that in the first 11 months of this year, it received 6 complaints about NMN-containing health care products, accounting for about 18% of the overall health care product complaints, involving insufficient NMN content, failure to receive goods after payment, and suspected counterfeit products.
Lei Yiquan, Chief Trade Control Director of the Customs Commodity Description Investigation Division, said that they will use the form of “snake release” to understand the situation of products on the market, and merchants must also have evidence to support product claims such as anti-cancer and anti-cancer products. If the customs has evidence to prove it is false or misleading Sexual product descriptions, merchants may violate the “Trade Descriptions Regulations”.
Chen Kaixin, vice chairman of the Health Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council, pointed out that the supervision of health food is currently scattered in different laws. The Legislative Council and the government have discussed for many years whether a law should be enacted to regulate oral products. However, it is difficult to define health and health food alone. She believes that the epidemic has made the public pay more attention to health, and now is a good time to strengthen public education and make wise choices.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau replied that there is no consistent definition and regulation of health care products in the world, and the SAR government will regulate related products depending on the nature, ingredients and claims of individual products.