Recalled oral contraceptive said to have contravened Consumer Protection Act

The team investigating cases of wrongful pregnancy following 2024's recall of an oral contraceptive, Yaz Plus, said the defective blister packs contravened the Consumer Protection Act.

The managing associate at LHL Attorneys, Angelique Pienaar, said that Section 55 of the act guarantees consumers the right to receive products fit for their intended purpose.

According to the firm, the product manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals contained only four hormone-active tablets, while the remaining 24 tablets were, in fact, placebos.

She added that the manufacturer also breached quality-control regulations of the Medicines and Related Substances Act.

"The defective blister packs, therefore, contravened these provisions of the Consumer Protection Act: Section 55 specifically providing consumers with a right to receive goods that are suitable for the purposes, for which they are generally intended and to receive goods that are of good quality in good working order and free of any defects."

Pienaar is urging women who suspect they may have been affected by the faulty batch to come forward.

She added that the batch in question was in circulation for a year.

"The affected batch was in circulation for approximately one year from November 2023 up until November 2024 when the recall was issued. Considering that the affected batch was in circulation for approximately one year before the recall was issued, it is anticipated that the effects of this will be quite far reaching.”