Government orders recall of Pan products in New Zealand

6.15pm

The Minister for Food Safety Minister Annette King is ordering the recall of products manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals Ltd that have been recalled in Australia.

More than 600 products have now been recalled in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The TGA recalled 219 products in Australia on Tuesday, and yesterday it recalled a further 449 products.

"While the initial recall of 219 products did not contain any that were on sale in New Zealand, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority is aware that there are some in this further recall that are available in New Zealand," NZFSA Director of Policy and Regulatory Standards Carole Inkster said this afternoon.

"The health of New Zealanders is of the utmost importance in this issue and it is imperative that products on this latest list are taken off the shop shelves. People should stop taking the products contained in this list immediately and either return them to the retailer where they bought them or dispose of them."

"Some New Zealand companies have already taken a responsible approach to this issue and withdrawn products from sale before a recall was issued. If people have concerns about any other products that may have been manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals they should stop taking them. They can contact the supplier, who will be listed on the product, and ask for an assurance that it does not contain any Pan Pharmaceutical products or ingredients."

Anyone with any concerns or queries can visit the NZFSA

website

or phone the NZFSA on 0800 NZFSA1 (0800 693 721). The phone line will be operating until 8pm tonight and again tomorrow.

In the meantime the NZFSA is continuing to gather information about companies that import Pan products into New Zealand.

Full list of Pan products recalled in NZ