Therapeutic Goods Administration announces deferral of codeine decision
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has deferred a final decision on the proposed rescheduling of over the counter codeine-containing medicines to prescription-only.
The interim decision to support the re-scheduling of combination analgesics and cold and flu remedies containing codeine from Schedules 2 and 3 to Schedule 4 was made last month in response to a recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling (ACMS).
However, during the most recent consultation period, 113 of the 127 submissions received did not support the proposal. The TGA medicines scheduling delegate said the deferral of a decision will allow the large number of submissions to be thoroughly considered.
The AMA continues to support the independent, evidence-based process of the ACMS in developing its recommendations.
