Malaysia. In line with the Montreal Protocol Policy on Metered Dose Inhalers (MDI) to which Malaysia is a party, the Drug Control Authority has made the following decisions:

MDIs registered with the DCA: For products containing CFCs used for the treatment of asthma and chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), the registration will continue as before, i.e. renewal will be for a 5-year period, until such time as the Montreal Protocol Policy on MDIs determines a date for enforcing the prohibition of the use of CFCs in MDIs.

The registration of products other than for the treatment of asthma and COPD has been cancelled with effect from 1 January 1999.

Applications for new products: New applications for registration of MDIs containing CFCs will not be accepted and new products containing CFCs in the process of evaluation after 31 December 1998 will not be approved.

As at July 1998, the DCA had registered 36 MDI products, including one product without CFCs (salbutamol: Airomir: 3M) and the secretariat has since received 4 new applications for MDIs without CFCs for the treatment of asthma.

Reference: Berita Ubat-Ubatan Vol.12, No.2, August 1998.