COLD ELIXIRS FACE NEW ANTI-DRUG CLAMP

COMMON cold and cough medicines are to be restricted further under a
voluntary code designed to stop their use in illicit amphetamines.

The Australian Self-Medication Industry has drawn up the code with the
marketers and manufacturers of non-prescription pseudoephedrine drugs.

Industry director Juliet Siefert said the code would help ensure legitimate
customers continued to have appropriate access to products.

Under the code, package sizes and promotional activities would be
limited. Stocks of the drugs at pharmacies would be reduced. Product
suppliers would be required to monitor and report to law enforcement
agencies all sales of stocks to pharmacies so trends and patterns in sales
could be traced.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commmission has given interim
authorisation for the code.

Last year, the Pharmaceutical Council recommended customers be required to
produce identification to buy non-presecription pseudoephedrine items.

The State Government is drawing up new laws to make it compulsory for
chemical and glassware industries to notify police each time products which
can be used to make illicit drugs are sold.