The BFDA has directed all businesses in the supply chain to immediately halt the sale and distribution of a specific batch of Hong Thai inhalers and submit any remaining stock to the authority for safe disposal. Consumers who have already purchased the inhaler were also advised to stop using it.
The warning comes after tests revealed significant microbial contamination, including yeast, mold, and bacteria, in certain batches, with levels exceeding safe limits, raising concerns about the product’s safety.
Phuntsho Om Namgyal, an importer in Thimphu, said he occasionally brings small batches of Hong Thai when visiting Thailand, and while he imported some in 2025, he is unsure if it included the affected 0322 batch, which has mostly been sold. Similarly, shopkeeper Chhimi Tandin confirmed she still had some inhalers from the batch in her shop but intends to dispose of them despite the financial loss.
The manufacturer clarified that only the batch produced in December 2024 was affected; all other batches remain safe, and reports suggesting a full manufacturing suspension are inaccurate. Previously, in October 2025, Thailand’s FDA recalled a batch of the inhaler for microbial contamination, and the UAE’s Emirates Drug Establishment also issued a recall in November 2025 after laboratory tests confirmed contamination beyond permissible international limits.