THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) assured that they will hold the release of shipments of Hydroxycut products, which was recently banned in the United States as reports revealed it to have harmful effects to consumers.

While Commissioner Napoleon Morales admitted that they have not received an order from the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), he said they will not allow the release of such item to the market.

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"We do not have any special instructions covering on Hydroxycut, but as I have said before like in previous cases like this (ban and recall), before Customs releases the shipment, it is mandatory to have a clearance from the BFAD," he said.

Morales noted that generally medicines are classified as regulated importations, which require permits from the appropriate government agencies prior to importation.

He explained that without the import permits, shipments are subject to seizure.

Aside from medicines and other articles that require import permits are agricultural goods, food items, toys, and raw materials used for manufacturing.

Last month, the US Food and Drugs Authority initially issued an advisory through the CNN website on the ill effects of the diet drugs, including liver problems and jaundice.

The BFAD, through its Advisory No. 2009-005, ordered General Nutrition Center (GNC), the Philippine importer of Hydroxycut 1000 mg, whose ingredients include hydroxagen, chromium picolinate, and L-carnitine, to immediately pull out the products from the market. (FP/Sunnex)