Synthetic Caffeine Made Controlled Substance In Scheduled Poisons List

SHAH ALAM, July 14 (Bernama) -- Synthetic caffeine used in designer drugs production like Syabu is among the chemical substance to be listed in the controlled Scheduled Poisons under the Poisons Act 1952 to be gazetted soon.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said thionyl chloride was another chemical substance identified for inclusion in the amended scheduled poisons list.
The two substances are also used as flavours in soft drinks, he said.
The amendments, among other things, are aimed at controlling and preventing production of banned drugs using the chemical substances by irresponsible groups.
To date, only eight chemical substances were controlled under the Act, he told reporters after opening a national workshop on chemical industries.
Dr Latiff said the move to gazette synthetic caffeine as a controlled item was also to ensure Malaysia was not turned into a centre for supply of the substance which had been banned by Thailand.
He said 70 per cent of Syabu content is synthetic caffeine.
"Currently, syabu producers in Thailand obtained synthetic caffeine supply very easily from our country. That's why we want to control it," he said.
Asked to what extent pharmacies were involved in the illegal production of drugs, Dr Latiff said so far only one pharmacy was found to be involved in such activities.
"We've taken action. They are actually a "black sheep" in the industry," he said, declining to divulge more details on the extent of the pharmacy's involvement.
He said though there were pharmacies which abused the powers given to them, the matter was not serious and was within control of the Health Ministry's enforcement division.