Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081111/article_380176.htm
Sale of cough and cold medicines to be cut to 5 packets
Created: 2008-11-11 0:48:49
Author:Cai Wenjun
BEIJING will restrict the purchase of medicines containing ephedrine to five packages after the State Food and Drug Administration issued a rule to further tighten the management of ephedrine compound products to prevent criminals using it to make methamphetamine.
Shanghai drug authorities yesterday said they would also take action soon.
Under the national ephedrine administration rule issued on Friday, authorities will keep a close eye on raw material purchases, production, wholesale and retail of ephedrine compound products.
"Relative documents are being distributed to province-based drug authorities now. We are making preparation on the issue," said Du Bing, a Shanghai FDA official.
Ephedrine is used in common cough and cold medicines as it can broaden blood vessels. Some nasal drips and plaster also contain ephedrine.
Pharmacies in Beijing yesterday began putting out posters informing customers of the restricted sales of medicines containing ephedrine. Dozens of common medicines are on the controlled list.
The State Food and Drug Administration said authorities had noticed an influx of ephedrine compound products into illegal channels for drug making recently, impacting on social safety and the public health system. The rule aimed to improve control of ephedrine compound products.
"Since the ephedrine compound products are widely used in common medicines treating cold, asthma and cough with good effects, the authorities restrict the maximum of one purchase into five small packages," the state FDA said on its Website. "By regulating a five-package maximum we can ensure ordinary patients can be treated while preventing the purchase of a large number of such products for illegal purposes."
Pharmacies in Shanghai said they had not yet received orders to restrict the sales of the medicines.
"Normally, people buy one or two packages of cold medicines. Ephedrine is an effective component treating cold and cough," Ye Renjie, a pharmacist at a drug store on Shaanxi Road N., said yesterday.
Shanghai drug authorities yesterday said they would also take action soon.
Under the national ephedrine administration rule issued on Friday, authorities will keep a close eye on raw material purchases, production, wholesale and retail of ephedrine compound products.
"Relative documents are being distributed to province-based drug authorities now. We are making preparation on the issue," said Du Bing, a Shanghai FDA official.
Ephedrine is used in common cough and cold medicines as it can broaden blood vessels. Some nasal drips and plaster also contain ephedrine.
Pharmacies in Beijing yesterday began putting out posters informing customers of the restricted sales of medicines containing ephedrine. Dozens of common medicines are on the controlled list.
The State Food and Drug Administration said authorities had noticed an influx of ephedrine compound products into illegal channels for drug making recently, impacting on social safety and the public health system. The rule aimed to improve control of ephedrine compound products.
"Since the ephedrine compound products are widely used in common medicines treating cold, asthma and cough with good effects, the authorities restrict the maximum of one purchase into five small packages," the state FDA said on its Website. "By regulating a five-package maximum we can ensure ordinary patients can be treated while preventing the purchase of a large number of such products for illegal purposes."
Pharmacies in Shanghai said they had not yet received orders to restrict the sales of the medicines.
"Normally, people buy one or two packages of cold medicines. Ephedrine is an effective component treating cold and cough," Ye Renjie, a pharmacist at a drug store on Shaanxi Road N., said yesterday.
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