SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 1979
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INSPECTION VISITS TO DRUG STORES
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PHARMACY INSPECTORS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN PAYING INSPECTION VISITS TO PHARMACEUTICAL TRADERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE REVISED PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE LAST JULY,
CIRCULARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THESE TRADERS AND LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ADVISING THEM TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE CIRCULAR ALSO REMINDED THAT, WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1979, APPLICATIONS FOR IMPORT LICENCES WOULD NOT BE ENDORSED UNLESS THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE, OR PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE OR A COPY OF THE RECEIPT FOR APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF THE PRODUCT TO BE IMPORTED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS ALL PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IMPORTED OR MADE LOCALLY, WOULD HAVE TO BE REGISTERED BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO BE SOLD,
+THE PRODUCT, BEFORE BEING ACCEPTED FOR REGISTRATION, IS ASSESSED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S PHARMACEUTICAL REGISTRATION SECTION ON ITS SAFETY, QUALITY AND EFFICACY, HE SAID.
CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION ARE VALID FOR FIVE YEARS. PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATES ARE ALSO VALID FOR THE SAME PERIOD.
EXPLAINING THE LAST CATEGORY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THESE WERE GRANTED TO PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS WHICH HAD BEEN AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET BEFORE JULY 1 LAST YEAR AND WHICH HAD PROVED TO CAUSE NO SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECT ON MEN AND ANIMALS.
+THIS IS TO AVOID DISRUPTION OF THE SALE AND SUPPLY OF THESE PRODUCTS, HE SAID.
ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, THE FORENSIC PHARMACY SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD GRADUALLY EXTEND ITS ENFORCEMENT EFFORT TO COVER OTHER AREAS UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS,
+A PERSON VIOLATING THE REGULATIONS IS LIABLE, ON CONVICTION, TO A MINIMUM FINE OF $2,500 AND A MAXIMUM OF $10,000, PLUS A PRISON TERM OF ONE YEAR. HE IS ALSO LIABLE TO A FURTHER FINE OF $1,000 FOR EVERY DAY DURING WHICH AN OFFENCE CONTINUES SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF CONVICTION, HE SAID.
THE FORENSIC PHARMACY INSPECTORS, CURRENTLY ENFORCING THE POISONS REGULATIONS, HANDLED NEARLY 100 PROSECUTIONS UP TO DECEMBER LAST YEAR, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURES.
+THE CONVICTION RATE SO FAR IS NEARLY 100 PER CENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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