Press release
| Date: | 23 February 2011 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 11:30 |
| Contact: | Press Office 020 3080 7651
or press.office@mhra.gsi.gov.uk Out-of-hours 07770 446 189 |
A 48-year-old man was sentenced yesterday to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work for selling and supplying herbal medicines to the public without a marketing authorisation.
Ramchandre Damle of Southall, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to three counts of selling and supplying the medicinal products, ‘DBCare’, ‘BControl’ and ‘SX Power’.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a warning to the public about DBCare in 2008 as it claimed it could allow patients to stop taking their prescribed diabetic medication.
This case came to the attention of the MHRA after it received a complaint concerning an advertisement in the publication, 'Pravasi Times', which contained a website operated by Ace Continental Exports Ltd.
The MHRA reviewed the three medicines in question to determine they were relevant medicinal products, then ordered the company to withdraw them from sale. However, further investigation revealed that they had not been withdrawn and the company was in possession of quantities of all three drugs which were intended to be placed on the market.
Invoices provided by Mr Damle disclosed that the income received by the company for unauthorised sales of each product from 2005 to 2008, totalled approximately £70,000. The court has been invited to consider making a confiscation order against Mr Damle.
MHRA Head of Herbal Medicine Policy, Richard Woodfield, said, “This case is an example of very poor practice in part of the unlicensed herbal sector and shows the risk that can arise where serious unauthorised claims are made for unlicensed herbal products.
“In contrast, the public can be assured that herbal medicines registered under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme meet the assured standards of safety and manufacture, and that they come with authorised information for consumers about the safe use of the product."
MHRA Head of Operations, Danny Lee-Frost said, “The conscious supply of dangerous products such as these proves that some individuals and companies will blatantly flout regulations in order to make money.
“They have no consideration for their customers' health nor are they healthcare professionals. Their only motivation is financial gain.”
Notes to Editor
- If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968 or the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will apply for a confiscation order to recoup illicit earnings, if the individual is found guilty. In cases involving counterfeit medicines, the MHRA will use the Fraud Act or Trade Marks Act which both carry a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment.
- The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone – the public and healthcare professionals as well as the industry – to tell us about any problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and take any necessary action.
- Further information on the MHRA’s THR scheme and details of products granted a THR can be found on the MHRA website:
Press release: Six month suspended sentence for selling and supplying herbal medicines without marketing authorisation 
