Federal Regulation of Nutritional Supplements Containing Ephedrine Derivatives (Resolution No. 99-6-03)

May 8, 2003 2:56 pm Topics: Resolutions

Resolution No. 99-6-03
Title: Federal Regulation of Nutritional Supplements Containing Ephedrine Derivatives

Whereas, over-the-counter drugs that include ingredients such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine have been identified as the current major precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine; and

Whereas, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and various states have taken steps to restrict the quantities of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine that may be purchased in a single transaction; and

Whereas, these restrictions have resulted in reducing the availability of these drugs for this illicit purpose; and

Whereas, the methamphetamine laboratories are turning to nutritional supplements containing ephedrine derivatives (e.g., ephedra, ma huang, etc.) as replacements;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP petition the DEA to add nutritional supplement products containing ephedra to the list of substances that are subject to the control of the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP petition the DEA to remove any exemptions that it may have granted for ephedrine products containing therapeutically significant quantities of other active medicinal ingredients.

(Resolution passed at NABP’s 99th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA)