Max
08-15-2002, 09:45 AM
Italy: Inquiry Opened on Over-The-Counter Laxatives
Thu Aug 15,10:34 AM ET
FLORENCE (Reuters Health) - An Italian public prosecutor has opened an inquiry into over-the-counter laxatives containing aloe and cascara sagrada, after US authorities banned them, the Italian daily La Stampa reported on Wednesday.
Turin public prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello appointed the antifraud squad Nas to gather data on sales, safety reports and clinic studies from the pharmaceutical companies producing the laxatives, the newspaper reports.
Guariniello has also ordered verification of reports of side effects at the health ministry's pharmacovigilance department and an investigation into measures adopted to market the products.
There are 15 laxatives under examination, all containing aloe and cascara sagrada or their extracts.
But according to the health ministry, there is no concern over the risks involved by the use of these products, "which have been on the market for dozens of years," according to an official statement.
The health ministry noted in a statement that these products, "have been on the market for dozens of years," and said the US Food and Drug Administration ( news - web sites)'s ruling was due to a lack of data on the safety of the ingredients.
"Hence there is no evidence of risk, as shown by the 6-month period set to abide the ruling," the statement said.
"In particular, as to laxatives, the Pharmaceutical Commission published in 1998 guidelines...recommended an occasional use of those products."
Thu Aug 15,10:34 AM ET
FLORENCE (Reuters Health) - An Italian public prosecutor has opened an inquiry into over-the-counter laxatives containing aloe and cascara sagrada, after US authorities banned them, the Italian daily La Stampa reported on Wednesday.
Turin public prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello appointed the antifraud squad Nas to gather data on sales, safety reports and clinic studies from the pharmaceutical companies producing the laxatives, the newspaper reports.
Guariniello has also ordered verification of reports of side effects at the health ministry's pharmacovigilance department and an investigation into measures adopted to market the products.
There are 15 laxatives under examination, all containing aloe and cascara sagrada or their extracts.
But according to the health ministry, there is no concern over the risks involved by the use of these products, "which have been on the market for dozens of years," according to an official statement.
The health ministry noted in a statement that these products, "have been on the market for dozens of years," and said the US Food and Drug Administration ( news - web sites)'s ruling was due to a lack of data on the safety of the ingredients.
"Hence there is no evidence of risk, as shown by the 6-month period set to abide the ruling," the statement said.
"In particular, as to laxatives, the Pharmaceutical Commission published in 1998 guidelines...recommended an occasional use of those products."