IMPORTED DIET PRODUCTS NOW NEED MCC CLEARANCE

No diet product may be cleared by South African customs if the Medicine Control Council has not analysed the product, a Beeld report states. It notes that the MCC banned the product "Simply Slim" a few weeks ago after it was found to contain the prescription drug sibutramine. Tests have also shown sibutramine in consignments of "Nu-Evo", "HNS New Me" and "Forme Slim". The MCC fears that some diet products also contain ingredients related to the drug amphetamine. MCC Registrar Mandisa Hela said the council relies on complaints from the public as there is no legislation or regulations to register these products. Proposed regulations will be published shortly.