Distribution List
Singapore Medical Association
Singapore Medical Council
Pharmaceutical Society Singapore

Reclassification of Zolpidem

With effect from 1 August 2005, the drug Zolpidem will be removed from the First Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) and the Second Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (MDR), and will be gazetted in the Medicines (Export Licence for Psychotropic Substances) Regulations under the purview of the Health Sciences Authority.

2.  With this change, Zolpidem will now be controlled in the Medicines (Export Licence for Psychotropic Substances) Regulations in addition to the Poisons Act. These two sets of legislation have in place provisions to regulate the importation, exportation, possession, manufacture, compounding, storage, transport and sale of the drug. We are confident that the medical community in Singapore will exercise professional judgement in dispensing the drug appropriately.

3.  The inclusion of Zolpidem in the Medicines (Export Licence for Psychotropic Substances) Regulations will also be announced on the Health Sciences Authority website at http://www.hsa.gov.sg.


This circular is jointly issued by:
Centre for Drug Administration, Health Sciences Authority
Central Narcotics Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs