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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1994
IN GENERAL, THE EXISTING LEGISLATION PROVIDES ADEQUATE CONTROL OVER DRUGS. THE LEGISLATION IS KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT IT IS UP-TO-DATE AND EFFECTIVE. AMENDMENTS ARE MADE AS AND WHEN NECESSARY, FOR EXAMPLE
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PSYCHOTROPIC
SUBSTANCFS OF THE BENZODIAZEPINE GROUP WERE SCHEDULED AS DANGEROUS DRUGS IN 1992 IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE STRICTEST FORM OF CONTROL OVER THEM;
STRICTER CONTROLS ON THE SALE OF COUGH MEDICINE CONTAINING MORE THAN 0.1 PER CENT OF CODEINE WERE INTRODUCED IN JANUARY LAST YEAR TO BRING ITS SALE UNDER THE DIRECT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PHARMACISTS. AS A RESULT, THE ABUSE OF COUGH MEDICINE HAS REDUCED; AND
FURTHER CONTROLS ON THE IMPORTATION OF CODEINE SYRUP ARE PROPOSED IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL LAST MONTH TO BRING COUGH PREPARATION WITH A LOWER CONCENTRATION OF CODEINE OF LESS THAN 0.1 PER CENT UNDER PROPER LICENSING CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE ABUSE OF COUGH MEDICINE.
WE DO NOT SEE THE NEED TO BRING FORWARD GENERAL AMENDING LEGISLATION ΤΟ TIGHTEN OR EXTEND EXISTING CONTROLS. NEVERTHELESS, WHEN LOOPHOLES ARE IDENTIFIED, WE WILL TAKE ACTION TO CLOSE THEM AS IN THE PAST.
AS REGARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, LARGE SEIZURES BY POLICE AND CUSTOMS OF ILLICIT DRUGS WERE ACHIEVED IN 1993: 270 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN, 43 KILOGRAMS OF OPIUM, 547 KILOGRAMS OF HERBAL CANNABIS, SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF VARIOUS NARCOTICS, ANALGESICS AND TRANQUILLISERS WERE MADE.
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THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD, SUPPORTED BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH ΤΟ CONTROL THE ILLEGAL SALE OF DRUGS. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS PLANS TO STRENGTHEN PROGRESSIVELY ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. PLANS ARE IN HAND TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF TEST PURCHASES AND INSPECTIONS OF DRUG RETAIL PREMISES. THE NUMBER OF PHARMACY INSPECTORS WILL BE INCREASED AND ADDITIONAL CASUAL WORKERS WILL BE EMPLOYED. FREQUENCY OF INSPECTIONS WILL, BE FURTHER ENHANCED BY MORE EFFECTIVE STAFF DEPLOYMENT AND RE-PRIORITISATION OF ACTIVITIES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO ESTABLISH, A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO ASSIST IN THE PROSECUTION OF OFFENDING DRUG RETAILERS.
THE
THE EXISTING PENALTIES PROVIDED FOR IN THE LEGISLATION ARE CONSIDERED, BY AND LARGE, APPROPRIATE. REVISION OF THE LEVEL OF PENALTIES HAS BEEN SOUGHT WHERE WARRANTED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR THE OFFENCE OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS WERE INCREASED IN 1992 FROM $10,000 TO $1 MILLION, AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS.
/THE MAXIMUM