Ephedrine-containing OTCs should be on shelves, not behind counter, NDMA tells DEA.

EPHEDRINE-CONTAINING OTCs SHOULD BE ON SHELVES, NDMA MAINTAINS, not behind the counter, in Dec. 8 comments on the Drug Enforcement Administration's proposed rules to implement the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996 (MCA) ("The Tan Sheet" Oct. 13, p. 14). In the proposed implementing regs, published in the Oct. 7 Federal Register, DEA restricted ephedrine-containing OTC products to behind-the-counter sale. Single ingredient ephedrine products, of which few, if any, remain on the market, already are restricted. The Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association "strongly recommends that DEA eliminate this proposed security regulation" to restrict the sale of ephedrine-containing products because the MCA provides safeguards, including a 24 g single transaction limit on OTC ephedrine products, the association says.