TGA wants to raise age for OTC cough/cold products

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration recommends raising the minimum age for OTC pediatric cough and cold products to 6 years - the same age 1U.K. regulators recommend and two years older than in the 2U.S. TGA bases the recommendation on an external safety review of data summarized in Australia's 3review of cough and cold medicines in children. It also wants the 4National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee to make cough and cold products for 6- to 12-year-olds available only from a pharmacist, and wants manufacturers to package all cough and cold products in child-resistant containers by July 2010