WILLEMSTAD - Customs has halted all shipments of the dietary supplement GAF-Plus on the orders of the Public Health Inspectorate after it was discovered that the product contains diclofenac. So far, 27 shipments, amounting to 2,385 bottles, have tested positive, and the import of the product has been stopped.
Initially, GAF-Plus was allowed on the local market as a dietary supplement without any indication on the label that it contained the drug diclofenac. "However, further research revealed that the product does contain the substance, posing significant health risks," according to the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN).
The Inspectorate had previously issued warnings about the risks of using GAF-Plus, urging the public to avoid the product. Despite these warnings, the supplement continues to be available through illegal channels, including unauthorized sales and online platforms.
All pharmacies have been informed about the presence of diclofenac in GAF-Plus and were instructed to remove the product from their shelves. Inspections have shown that GAF-Plus is no longer being sold in most cases, except for one instance of illegal sales.
The GMN Ministry has requested importers of GAF-Plus to provide information about previous buyers of the product. The Inspectorate is still awaiting their response and is preparing further measures to track down any remaining stock.