25 brands of herbal medicines withdrawn from market: BPOM
25 brands of herbal medicines withdrawn from market: BPOM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.