GROCERY STORES TO BE BARRED FROM SELLING CRYSTAL METH INGREDIENTS

TORONTO - Canadian grocery stores will no longer be able to sell many
popular cold and allergy remedies because they contain ingredients
used to make a popular recreational drug, regulators said.

Pharmacies are exempt from the ban, which takes effect on April 10,
although some products will be moved behind the counter, said the
National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, which
governs the sale of medications.

The ban applies to 17 medications that contain ephedrine or
pseudoephedrine, which are used to make methamphetamine, also known
as crystal meth.

"The idea is that if you have fewer locations that are selling them,
you have more opportunity for educating store personnel, monitoring
sales and monitoring the use of the product," NAPRA executive
director Ken Potvin said yesterday.

Canadian police praised the move. "It will impact the availability of
precursor chemicals to clandestine labs," said Sergeant Martin Blais
of the RCMP. A 2004 RCMP report said the force had busted 40 crystal
meth labs in 2004, compared with 14 in 1999.