South London Man And His Shop Fined For Illegally Selling Unlicensed Medicines As Skin Lightening Creams, UK

Main Category: Medical Malpractice / Litigation
Article Date: 30 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Mr Arshad Mahmood (48) of 42 Sevenoaks Road, Brockley, London SE4 1RE was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay over £4,500 in costs at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court on 23 July 2008 for the illegal sale and supply of unlicensed medicines and banned cosmetics. His company, of which he was director, called Sabina Hair & Cosmetics (Peckham) Ltd was also fined £4,000 and over £4,500 in costs. This follows a joint investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Southwark Trading Standards.

The MHRA became involved after being contacted by Southwark Trading Standards to assist in a joint inspection at the shop. Southwark Trading Standards had previously conducted two test purchases of tubes of Movate Cream back in May 2007. This cream contained the cortico-steroid Clobetasol Propionate. The inspection of the shop revealed a significant amount of unlicensed steroid creams and banned cosmetics masked as skin lightening creams which were seized and removed. Analysis of the products revealed that they contained cortico-steroids and hydroquinone (a banned cosmetic).

Mick Deats, Enforcement Group Manager at the MHRA said, "Mr Mahmood has put the public at risk by selling potent medicines that are not licensed and therefore have no guarantee of safety. There are dangers associated with the long-term use of steroid creams, such as thinning the skin. This case serves as a reminder that we will continue to clamp down on those who put public health at risk."

Notes

1. Sabina Hair & Cosmetics (Peckham) Ltd is situated at 68-70 Rye Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 4NB

2. Mr Mahmood was fined £2,000 for four offences under the Medicines Act and £2,000 for four offences under the Consumer Protection Act. The same applied to his company.

3. If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, 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 recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

4. 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.

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency