Sale of ephedrine products limited in Beijing

By Lan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-11 08:13

Pharmacies across Beijing on Monday began limiting the sale of products that contain ephedrine, following the introduction of a new regulation from the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).

Ephedrine is a common ingredient of cold remedies but can also be used to make the methamphetamine "ice".

While dozens of popular cold, cough and asthma medicines, including Contac NT and Baijiahei, contain the stimulant, consumers are allowed to buy no more than five packets at a time of any drug that contains it, the SFDA said.

Yan Jiangying, a spokeswoman for the SFDA, said the new regulation was designed to help stop the misuse of ephedrine.

"The notice was issued to stop people from buying large amounts of medicines from which they can extract ephedrine to make ice," she told China Daily.

As well as the limits on retail sales, the notice includes tighter controls on the supply, manufacture and wholesale of raw materials that contain ephedrine, she said.

"The SFDA will impose administrative sanctions on any pharmacy, manufacturer or supplier that violates the new rules.

"In some cases, people could also face criminal charges," she said.

Liu Jin, the manager of a Cachet pharmacy in Beijing, said he was happy to implement the new rule and doubted it would have much of an impact on sales.

"We understand the regulation and will strictly carry it out," he said.

"I think it will help to cut drug crime."