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BREAST IMPLANTS

Swiss suspend Brazilian firm’s breast implants

Switzerland has suspended the use of breast implants made by a Brazilian firm after “impurities” were discovered in some items during a routine inspection.

Swiss suspend Brazilian firm's breast implants
Photo: Franco Pecchio

Swissmedic, the Swiss institute of therapeutic products, has advised a temporary suspension of implants made by Brazilian company Silimed after “quality problems” were found during a routine inspection relating to the product’s EU conformity certificate, it said in a statement.

The suspension applies to breast implants as well as other products covered by the EU conformity certificate including pectoral implants, gastric bands, testicular implants and nostril retainers.

“Swissmedic hasn’t, until now, been aware of any issues involving products from this manufacturer which pose a risk to public health,” the Swiss organization said in a statement.

The organization has partnered with other European authorities in an investigation to identify any potential risks.

Until the investigation concludes, Swissmedic recommends that Silimed implants are not used.

France, the UK and Australia have also suspended the products.

Founded in 1978, Silimed is the largest manufacturer of silicon implants in South America and exports its products around the world.

The suspension comes five years after the global health scare surrounding breast implants made by French company Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP).

The now-banned implants were found to have been made with industrial grade silicone making them far more likely to rupture than other implants.

The PIP scandal affected some 30,000 women in France and thousands more elsewhere.

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