25 brands of herbal medicines withdrawn from market: BPOM

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto, Central Java

The government has decided to withdraw 25 brands of jamu (traditional herbal medicine) containing dangerous chemicals and revoke their production licenses because of chemical contents, a senior government official said over the weekend.

Speaking at a seminar on jamu, the National Agency for Drugs and Food Control (BPOM) chairman Sampurno said in Purwokerto, Central Java, on Saturday that most of the banned jamu contained phenylbutazon, paracetamol, antalgin (metampyron), dexamethasone, furosemid, caffeine, theophyllin, talbutamide, chlorpropamid or allupurinol.

The jamu brands are produced by 14 firms in Cilacap regency, four firms in Banyumas regencies, Central Java, and seven in other regions in Java.

Sampurno said the chemical substances, if consumed, could be hazardous to health and cause kidney, liver and heart disorders and reduce red cells in the blood. Athletes who consume the jamu could face doping charges.

Most of the banned jamu is for the treatment of asthma, rheumatism, headache, obesity and general fitness.

The agency withdrew the production licenses of 35 traditional medicine firms in Cilacap last year.

"We are serious in handling this matter because traditional medicines are distributed throughout the country. Besides, the country's good image is at stake since some of the jamu are exported to Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia," Sampurno said.

He added that his office had learned about the chemical content from the two neighboring countries, which complained about the health hazards the jamu posed.

Sampurno also said that the agency would take firm action against people who produced and distributed traditional medicines containing dangerous chemicals because it was against the law.

According to Law No. 23/1992 on health and Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection, producers of unsafe medicines could face a maximum jail term of five years or Rp 2 billion fine.

Banned jamu: Pay Na Ran Sinar Laba-Laba, Pegal Linu/Cien Sen San Jaya Asli, Akar Lawang Super Prima Jaya, Akar Lawang Stamina, Serbuk Manjur Antik Manjur Jaya, Manjur Sehat Wanita, Manjur Sehat Laki-laki, Manjur Langsingset, Sir Angin Kaplet, Manjur Sir Angin, Manjur Gemuk Sehat, Sesak Nafas No. 7, Candi Mas Purba, Serbuk No. 2, Serbuk No. 3, Kitla, Runrah, Sesak Nafas, Tanggul Darah, Amrat, Galian Rapet, Karomah Sehat, Super Rematik No. 2, Ragil Santosa, Serbuk Pegal Linu Akar Pribumi.