P LEGAL LOOPHOLE TO BE SHUT

The Government is moving to close a legal loophole being exploited to
import the main ingredient in methamphetamine.

The Ministry of Health, which has known about the loophole for more than a
year, yesterday circulated a proposal to classify P (pseudoephedrine) as a
Class C drug. The change in status is not likely to happen before next year.

As a class C3 drug, pseudoephedrine will be in a lower category to cannabis
under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The category covers controlled drugs with "moderate abuse potential,
therapeutic use and low dependence risk".

Importers of pseudoephedrine will have to be licensed by the ministry.

The changes would not affect consumers buying products at chemists.

The Pharmaceutical Society supported the move, said spokesman Euan Galloway.

"It will control the illicit importation of pseudoephedrine without
affecting the legitimate access by the public to medicines containing
pseudoephedrine from pharmacies," he said.

Mr Galloway said pharmacies had been successful in limiting supply of cold
and flu medicines by asking for identification and working with police to
identify suspicious shoppers.

But he said the domestic crackdown had led people to import the drug to
meet demand for methamphetamine.

The Herald last month revealed Customs had noticed pill imports leap
30-fold in two years. The service expects at least 4 million tablets will
be imported this year.

Customs has seized 530,000 pills this year compared with 32,600 two years
ago, but stops barely one fifth of consignments.

Illegal pill buyers can be jailed for five years under the Misuse of Drugs
Act but no one importing by mail has been charged under the act because its
wording makes it harder to prove possession of the pills.

The proposed changes would increase penalties for importing pseudoephedrine
from three months in jail to a maximum term of seven years.

The existing fine of $500 will double to $1000, although the Government is
expected to consider raising the amount.

The Cabinet has also agreed to lower the presumption of supply of
methamphetamine from the current 56g to 5g.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said the change would allow police
to prosecute more suppliers of the drug.

A recommendation on the classification of ephedrine, another ingredient
used in methamphetamine production, is expected in a few weeks.

Cleaning up

* The Government tagged $6.6 million over four years in the last Budget for
the clean-up of meth labs.

* Clean-ups can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $150,000.

* This year there have been 94 clandestine lab busts.