Loophole allows sale of diet drugs: Vendors advertising dangerous drugs on Japanese-language Web sites.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri)

Two potentially fatal diet aids, one of which is banned from sale in Japan, are easily available on Japanese-language Web sites, sources said Saturday.

The appetite suppressant fenfluramine, which is contained in the Chinese-made diet pill Sennomoto-kono and has been linked to the death of four Japanese and liver conditions in several others, and the dietary supplement Ephedra, which has been linked to fatal heart conditions in the United States, are sold on the Net, sources said Saturday.

A Health, Welfare and Labor Ministry official said: "It would violate the Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Instruments Law for dealers to manufacture and …