Following a media report that boxes of Tamiflu had stickers which indicated a three-year extension of the drug's shelf-life, the Health Ministry clarified that the shelf-life of medicinal products can be extended, provided the drug retains its potency when stored at recommended levels.

Tamiflu capsules, for instance, must be stored at room temperature below 25ºC and kept in a dry place.

Singapore's national Tamiflu stockpiles are kept in a secure warehouse, with an air-conditioned environment at below 25ºC and an average humidity of 60 per cent.

Having assessed data provided by the drug's manufacturer Roche, the Health Science Authority (HSA) found that such conditions can support the shelf-life of Tamiflu capsules for seven years from the date of manufacture.

The ministry added that drug manufacturers routinely seek approval from health authorities to extend the shelf life of their products and the move is consistent with what regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe and Australia have done.

HSA approves some 20 to 30 such applications annually. ESTHER NG

Copyright 2009 MediaCorp Pte Ltd | All Rights Reserved