Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2016
366. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his views on the regulation issued by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, that medicine packs containing more than 720mg of pseudoephedrine will not be available without a prescription and that all pharmacy sales of all medicines containing pseudoephedrine will be limited to one pack per transaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29292/16]
View answerPseudoephedrine is an active ingredient in non-prescription cough and cold medicines and acts as a decongestant. These medicines are intended for short-term use.
Pseudoephedrine is also a precursor material in the production of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a dangerous, highly addictive controlled drug which is associated with fatalities and a high risk of causing harm.
The diversion of pseudoephedrine containing medicines for use in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine is a significant problem in countries such as the USA and Australia and this has led to the implementation of measures to limit the access to non- prescription pseudoephedrine.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has implemented two risk minimisation measures in relation to the sale and supply of pseudoephedrine containing medicines in Ireland:
- A maximum quantity of 720mg pseudoephedrine per pack is now permitted to be included in packs intended for sale in pharmacies without a prescription. Packs containing more than 720mg would only available subject to a prescription; and
- Pharmacy sales of all pseudoephedrine containing medicines are limited to one pack per transaction.
These conditions have been added to the licences of all relevant pseudoephedrine containing medicinal products.
A number of other EU Member States have also taken action, with the UK and Germany implementing similar restrictions, whilst the Czech Republic has limited sales to one pack of pseudoephedrine containing medicine, per person, per week. In certain other Member States, including Sweden, Finland and Norway, pseudoephedrine is a prescription only medicine and not available over the counter.
