Primatene Mist On Its Way Out

MICHAEL GARRY

ATLANTA — An official of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reminded retailers yesterday that they will no longer be permitted to sell epinephrine metered-dose asthma inhalers — sold over-the-counter as Primatene Mist — as of Dec. 31, 2011.

The reason for the ban is that Primatene Mist uses the chemical CFC-12, which is an ozone-depleting substance, as a “puffing” agent when sprayed.

The Food and Drug Administration has determined that Primatene Mist is no longer considered “an essential product” that would be exempted from bans of ozone-depleting products, said Keilly Witman, manager of the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, during a presentation at the Food Marketing Institute’s Energy & Store Development Conference here. “

So don’t place any orders at the end of November and manage your stock so you’re not caught with any excess,” she said.