Australia: Chemists warned after drug sale charges laid

New South Wales Police Minister Carl Scully has warned chemists not to sell large quantities of pseudoephedrine products, which can be used to make illegal drugs such as speed and ice.

The warning comes after prosecutions were launched yesterday against four Sydney chemists over the sale of cold and flu tablets.

The four pharmacists will face court for allegedly selling large amounts of cold and flu tablets containing pseudoephedrine.

They are alleged to have breached the poisons and therapeutic goods laws.

Mr Scully says pseudoephedrine is a key, legal ingredient in the illicit manufacture of illegal drugs like speed and ice.

He says chemists are not allowed to sell more than a few packets of the product at a time.

"I believe these prosecutions will go through the industry like a bushfire," he said.

"If you sell too many of these packets, you're liable to end up in court and possibly get deregistered."

A national committee will decide next month whether to change the classification of pseudoephedrine products so they can only be bought over the counter with the pharmacist's permission.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: Sat, 28 May 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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