CHPA Responds to Unanimous Committee Passage of HB 363

Bill Protects Consumer Access To Popular Cold and Allergy Medicines

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Consumer Healthcare Products Association

Mar 07, 2012, 03:37 ET

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today released the following statement after the Alabama House Health Committee unanimously passed House Bill 363, legislation authored by Representative Blaine Galliher that tackles methamphetamine production in Alabama by making smurfing a felony offense, implementing reasonable reductions to pseudoephedrine (PSE) purchasing limits, and activating a statewide drug offender database that prohibits PSE sales to anyone convicted of certain drug offenses for up to 10 years. Senator Bill Holtzclaw is sponsoring a similar bill—SB 341—in the Alabama Senate.

HB 363 will complement Alabama's real-time, stop-sale technology called the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) which blocks illegal PSE sales before they happen and protects law-abiding consumers access to nonprescription medicines containing PSE such as Advil Cold & Sinus, Allegra-D, Claritin-D, Mucinex-D, and Sudafed. The measure now heads to the full Alabama House for consideration.

"Representative Galliher and his colleagues are to be commended for advancing reasonable legislation that attacks the core of Alabama's meth problem while making sure that the rights of responsible Alabama workers and families are protected," said Elizabeth Funderburk, senior director of communications and public affairs for CHPA. "HB-363 is a responsible alternative to a prescription mandate - a misguided proposal that would lead to increased healthcare costs and unnecessary burdens for all Alabamans."

"With Rep. Galliher's approach, law-abiding Alabamans will still be able to purchase the cold and allergy medicines they rely upon, and law enforcement officials will be provided with effective new tools to track down meth criminals. Enactment of this legislation would be a significant victory for consumers, healthcare providers, law enforcement officials, and the state as a whole."

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SOURCE Consumer Healthcare Products Association