For the information of the general public, Mercodol and Tussionex as well as other preparations or drugs of similar nature already included in the list of prohibited drugs as embodied in Board Regulation No. 5, dated December 4, 1972 shall be considered as Exempt Preparations when such compound, mixture, or preparation containing any of the following Limited quantities of narcotic drugs include one or more non-narcotic active medicinal ingredients in proportions sufficient to confer upon the compound, mixture, or preparation valuable medicinal qualities other than those possessed by the narcotic drug alone:

1.       Not more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams:

2.       Not more than 100 milligrams of dihydrocodeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams;

3.       Not more than 100 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams;

4.       Not more than 2.5 milligrams of diphenoxylate not less than 25 micrograms of atrophine sulfate per dosage unit:

5.       Not more than 100 milligrams of opium per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams.

It is understood that the exempting provisions above enumerated shall not have the effect of removing the drugs from the purview of R.A. 3720 and the rules and regulations issued thereunder.

If the contents of the drugs or preparations exceed the ceilings above specified, such drugs or preparations shall remain in the category of prohibited drugs within the meaning of Section 2(e) of R.A. 6425, as amended.

This regulation shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 4 Jan. 1973

(SGD.) CLEMENTe S. GATMAITAN, M.D., M.P.H.
Chairman