A worker of Nam Duoc Co Ltd in the northern city of Nam Dinh runs a capsule production line. The Drug Administration of Viet Nam has confirmed that Viet Nam does not use toxic gelatin imported from China to make medicine capsules. (Photo: VNS)The Drug Administration of Viet Nam (DAV) confirmed on Monday that Viet Nam did not use toxic gelatin imported from China to make medicine capsules.

Viet Nam has two companies at present that specialise in producing medicine capsules but both of them have said that they do not use chromium-tainted gelatin made in China.

Chromium can be toxic and carcinogenic if ingested in excessive amounts.

Gelatin is used in a wide variety of foodstuff as also to make coloured capsules that contain different kinds of powdered medications. DAV earlier received information that the State Food and Drug Administration of China and other relevant agencies had discovered some companies were using industrial gelatin containing chromium to make medicinal capsules.

These companies had had their licences withdrawn by Chinese authorities, who had also banned the sale and use of such capsules, local media reports said.

To ensure safety for users, DAV has informed provincial and city departments of health and other stakeholders about the production and use of industrial gelatin and gelatin capsules.

The administration has also asked drug manufacturers and traders to investigate the origin of gelatin and gelatin capsules that are being used in the country.

It has already provided domestic drug manufacturers with a list of companies in China that have been discovered producing the toxic gelatin and gelatin capsules.

Domestic drug manufacturers and traders are also required by the DAV to check the quality of gelatin and getalin capsules to ensure that they meet registered standards.

Source: VNS