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For immediate release: January 3, 2006 (06-001)
Contact:
Steven Saxe, executive director, Board of Pharmacy 360-236-4825
Deanna Whitman, Communications
Office 360-236-4022
OLYMPIA ? Additional restrictions on the sale and purchase of some cold and sinus medicines are intended to reduce illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. The Washington State Board of Pharmacy adopted the rules as a result of a law passed in the 2005 legislative session. The law and rules will allow legitimate consumers to continue to have access to cold medicine but make it harder for meth cooks to find raw ingredients for making the illegal drug.
Beginning January 1, retailers who sell products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine must place these products behind the counter and out of the reach of customers. This requirement does not affect gel capsules, liquids and liquid capsules containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine in combination with another active ingredient. These types of products are harder to convert into methamphetamine.
No sales are permitted to persons under the age of 18.
The statewide rules will also begin requiring all shopkeepers to keep logs of each transaction involving products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine. Retailers must verify and record the purchaser?s name, date of birth, valid photo identification number and amount of drug purchased.
No more than two packages of these products may be purchased at one time; a single package may not contain more than three grams of the drug. Letters explaining the new rules will be sent to stores the first week of January and the board will begin enforcement February 1.
A task force including law enforcement, prosecutors, retailers, state patrol, attorneys general and the Board of Pharmacy will evaluate the data collected and make recommendations to the legislature in November 2007 on the effectiveness of the log and any additional measures needed.
The Board of Pharmacy protects and promotes public health, safety, and welfare in Washington by regulating the practice of pharmacy. The board licenses and disciplines pharmacists, pharmacies and drug wholesalers. Rules, policies and procedures developed by the board promote the delivery of quality health care to state residents.
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