Seventy-four over-the-counter drug products manufactured in China and sold in Taiwan failed to pass general screening tests conducted by the Department of Health, the agency said yesterday.
Six of the drug products contained metallic ingredients such as lead, mercury and copper, the health department's tests revealed. Two products were mixed with Western medicines and 71 had no expiry date printed on them.
Health officials say the tests show that consumers should buy Chinese medicine made in Taiwan -- which adheres to higher manufacturing standards -- as the quality of some drug products made abroad remains in doubt.
"Many people think Chinese medicine made in China is better," said Liao Chun-heng (
Liao also said consumers should consult with a physician or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medicine.
Of the 74 drugs, 59 were being tested for the first time, and the health department classified those into 12 different categories according to function.
Sixteen drugs were considered cold medicines, while 10 were considered nutritional supplements, such as vitamins for kidneys.
Five of the drugs' measured weights did not match the weight indicated on their packaging, 16 lacked any record of a manufacturing date and 55 lacked an expiration date.
Of the six drugs found to contain metal, four contained mercury in levels up to 7,041 parts per million. A drug containing metal greater than 100 ppm is considered dangerous.
"We adopt the same standards as Japan," Liao said.
"A little mercury won't cause any immediate danger. But if mercury accumulates in the body, it might result in chronic poisoning and cause symptoms like oral irritation, abdominal pain and even paralysis."
Health officials said Chinese medicine was more difficult to test than Western medicine because many herbal medicines were still unknown to them.
Because of this, the health department only tests for weight discrepancies, dissolution, ingredient comparisons or whether the products contain Western medicines or other elements, such as metal.
The health department has conducted an annual survey of Chinese drugs from China since 1988, after many Taiwanese began visiting their families there.
The importation of Chinese medicine from China is not legal yet, but many products are available in Taiwan's pharmacies or stores.
Liao said it was very difficult to monitor the public's intake of drugs from China because many consumers bring drugs back from China to give as gifts to families or friends.
In order to obtain samples, the health department had people buy some drug products in China and obtained others from pharmacies or other sources in Taiwan.
Consumers can visit the National Laboratories of Food and Drugs' Web site to read the health department's report.
The Web site is http://www.nlfd.gov.tw/
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