Police seized 20 vials of a ‘anti-aging’ product called Elravie Re2O, which allegedly contains purified skin from deceased donors, during a raid on a premise in Mong Kok. A 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing unregistered pharmaceutical products and suspected unlawful commercial dealing in human organs. According to Dr Fung Ying, the Controller of Regulatory Affairs of the Department of Health, the product lacks clinical safety data and presents potential public health risks.
Product and Background Information
The product, called Elravie Re2O, is meant to be administered via injection. According to the regulations, this product falls under the regulation of the Human Organ Transplant Ordinance and is also a pharmaceutical product under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
While the Health Department has received an application for exemption for Elravie Re2O as a regulated product, it is being processed and no exemption has been granted so far. No application has been received to register the injectable as a pharmaceutical product.
Sweep Operation
Since last Friday, four beauty treatment centers in Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Tsuen Wan, and Yuen Long were raided, and over 170 vials of suspected Part 1 poisons or unregistered pharmaceutical products were seized.
Police in Hong Kong have strengthened their crackdown on unregistered and advertised 'regulated product' clinics in recent years.