Senate bill allows regulatory agency to impede access to basic medications

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association today issued the following statement in response to passage of Senate Bill 437:

"Legislation sponsored by Senator Percy Malone and now signed into law places new, onerous burdens on Arkansas families and makes it more difficult for those with common colds and allergies, even basic aches and pains, to get the medications they need. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 437 falls short of the common-sense approach Arkansans expect from their leaders.  

"This new law:

• Places local pharmacists in the role of law enforcement by requiring them to determine whether a customer can purchase basic medications like Claritin-D or Sudafed;
• Imposes an identification mandate that prevents legitimate consumers from 49 other states and the nation's capital—including the 22 million visitors to Arkansas each year as well as out-of-state students at the University of Arkansas—from purchasing medicines deemed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be safe and effective for consumer use; and,
• Grants new authority to the Arkansas Board of Pharmacy to impose new restrictions on common, nonprescription remedies like cold and allergy medicines—even antacids and pain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen.  

"Regrettably, this anti-consumer law will add new and unnecessary barriers to certain nonprescription medicines, much to the detriment of the Arkansas families who rely upon them."

CHPA is the 130-year-old-trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.

chpa-info.org

SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association