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JACKSON, Miss. – A new Mississippi law enhances the fight against illegal purchases of over-the-counter medicines with pseudoephedrine (PSE). The Consumer Healthcare Products Association praised this effort to improve public safety and curb illegal drug production.
The legislation, signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves and supported by Representative Stacey Wilkes and Senator Hob Bryan, requires all manufacturers of PSE-containing medicines to share in the costs and management of the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) system. This real-time, stop-sale technology allows retailers to enforce sales limits and assists law enforcement in preventing illicit transactions.
“CHPA commends Mississippi for taking decisive action today to ensure the NPLEx system remains a powerful tool in stopping illegal sales, enhancing real-time collaboration between manufacturers, pharmacies, and law enforcement,” said Vice President of State & Local Government Affairs Carlos Gutierrez. “By investing in a system that has already proven effective in combating illicit drug production, this law further reinforces public safety and sets a strong example for other states. A well-supported NPLEx benefits everyone – it protects communities, promotes transparency, and maintains responsible access – and CHPA encourages other states to follow Mississippi’s lead in sustaining this critical program.”
Mississippi, the first state to launch NPLEx in 2021, now mandates that manufacturers provide financial support for the system. In 2024, NPLEx demonstrated its effectiveness by blocking nearly 2 million boxes of PSE-containing medications from illegal sales, thus preventing over 5 million grams of PSE from being misused in illicit drug production.
Currently, 38 states use NPLEx, and CHPA is actively promoting its further adoption to guarantee that responsible citizens can access these vital medications while preventing their abuse.
