Simply Slim product still not compliant with Medicines Control Council (MCC) requirements, April 15 2010

Contrary to the actions of the company advertising, promoting and selling the Simply Slim product, the Medicines Control Council (MCC) would like to put it on record that the product in question (Simply Slim) still remains suspended until data on safety, quality and efficacy of the product has been evaluated by the MCC.

It has come to the attention of the MCC that the company Simply Slim has re-launched or intends to re-launch the product in defiance of the MCC directive of 27 January this year. The directive was for the product not be marketed or sold until such time that it has gone through the regulatory processes of the MCC requiring amongst others supportive data on the safety, quality and efficacy of the product.

To date Simply Slim has not submitted such data to the MCC for purposes evaluation by the controlling body.

The MCC based its decision to suspend the sale of the product after it was discovered that the product contained sibutramine, a schedule five substance. Medicines containing schedule five substances may only be sold on a prescription from a doctor and under the personal supervision of the physician.

A number of complaints received from the public by the MCC regarding the product include serious or life threatening adverse events such as psychological effects, kidney complications and cardiovascular events.

The MCC therefore resolved that the risks associated with the use of Simply Slim by the public are greater than the benefits and until such time as the MCC has evaluated the safety, quality and efficacy of the product the MCC prohibits the sale thereof.

Statement issued by Fidel Hadebe, Department of Health spokesperson, April 15 2010

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