Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) on Thursday released a new list of 65 syrup medicines that do not contain four harmful solvents–propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin/glycerol.
“This is a list of syrup drugs safe from EG (ethylene glycol) and DEG (diethylene glycol) since they do not contain the four solvents,” BPOM head Penny Lukito informed at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
On October 23, 2022, the agency had issued a list of 133 syrup medicines that did not contain the four solvents. The list was released based on BPOM registration data.
Lukito said that the research conducted by BPOM will continue. There are still a number of products that do not contain the four solvents, but their names are still in the process of being submitted.
The BPOM will provide additional information to the public once the research is completed, she added.
“We keep working on the research because there are so many syrup drugs that must be tested. For now, we have released 198 syrup drugs that are safe, including the previous 133,” she disclosed.
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Meanwhile, deputy for control of drugs, narcotics, psychotropics, precursors, and addictive substances at BPOM, Elin Herlina, said that the additional list of 65 syrup medicines was based on research conducted by BPOM. Some of the syrup medicines were in the process of extending distribution permits and introducing product changes or changes in formulations .
She also announced that there was one drug in the form of a dry syrup and an oral liquid that did not use propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and/or glycerin/glycerol as solvents.
“We did not include it in the list but we were informed that the product did not contain the four solvents so it is safe to use,” she added.
The latest list will serve as an input for the Ministry of Health in issuing circulars allowing health workers to prescribe the syrup drugs.
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