19 October 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
NZ government pseudoephedrine ban not warranted in Australia
The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI), the industry body representing non-
prescription consumer healthcare products, today
said that calls for a ban on the sale of
over-the-counter cold and flu preparations containing pseudoephedrine were unwarranted.
The New Zealand government has imposed a ban on over-the-counter sales of medicines
containing pseudoephedrine, in a move which it claims will help address the illicit diversion
of these products into the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Under the changes announced by the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key,
pseudoephedrine will be re-scheduled to become prescription only.
The Executive Director of ASMI, Juliet Seifert said there was no reason to be considering
any such policy change in Australia.
“ASMI has been working with NSW Police for some months on measures to strengthen the
illicit diversion of pseudoephedrine under Project STOP, an initiative helping pharmacists to
prevent the use of
pseudoephedrine-based products in the manufacture of
methamphetamine.
“There has been no indication during these discussions that the situation was out of
control, so the latest reported comments come as something of a surprise.
“Pseudoephedrine is an efficacious substance with a very long history of safe use by
people with coughs, colds, flu and nasal or sinus congestion. In Australia, there has been a
long history of steps adopted by government in partnership with the industry to address the
issue of diversion into illegal substances,” Ms Seifert said.
The range of measures includes:
The rescheduling in 2002 from S2 to S3 of single-active pseudoephedrine products
to ensure the mandatory intervention by a pharmacist in any sales;
The rescheduling in 2006 to S3 of
small pack sizes and Prescription only of large
pack sizes of combination products containing pseudoephedrine;
The development by ASMI of
a Pseudoephedrine Code of Conduct (authorised by
the ACCC) to ensure responsible marketing and promotion of these products by
sponsors;
The development and rollout by ASMI of an awareness campaign in collaboration
with the pharmacy profession to encourage safe storage and stockholding of
pseudoephedrine in pharmacies;
2
The development by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia of
Project Stop, an electronic
monitoring system to track the sales of products containing pseudoephedrine;
Active involvement by ASMI,
the Pharmacy Guild of Australia
and the
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in the National Precursor Working Group.
“These measures have worked well and law enforcement agencies have reported a
significant decline in the number of clandestine laboratories using OTC products in the illicit
manufacturing of methamphetamine since their introduction,” Ms Seifert said.
ASMI is supporting the mandating of Project STOP in all states and territories to ensure a
uniform and consistent approach and to ensure that the problem does not recur.
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About ASMI: The Australian Self-Medication Industry (ASMI) is the peak industry body for the Australian self
care industry representing consumer healthcare products including over-the-counter medicines and
complementary medicines. ASMI’s mission is to promote better health through responsible self-care. This means
ensuring that safe and effective self-care products are readily available to all Australians at a reasonable cost.
ASMI works to encourage responsible use by consumers and an increasing role for cost-effective self-medication
Media contacts:
Bob Bowden, Foresight Communications (02) 9241 2811, 0412 753 298
Renata Davis, Foresight Communications (02) 9241 2811, 0438 525 413
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