The Ministry of Health's Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAVN) hasissued a nationwide request for provinces and cities to tighten theirmanagement of drug importers and distribution companies.

In adocument released on August 19, DAVN asked localities and businesses toinspect drugs imported by companies listed as trading uncertifiedmedicines. The report asked that the goods be checked before they couldbe placed on the market and called for a strict approach to handlingviolations.

The statement also suggested provinces and citiestarget oversight of quality management procedures, particularly inexpediting announcements on the withdrawal of uncertified medicine.

Drugimport and trading companies have been asked to assess drug suppliersand manufacturers to ensure the quality of drugs on the market.Companies were also asked to comply with regulations on the withdrawalof unqualified medicine.

The decision was put forward after druginspection results showed multiple quality and management violations,particularly in relation to unqualified drugs and their withdrawal fromthe market.

DAVN on August 15 revoked the licences of a numberof foreign drugs, mainly from Indian manufacturers, including UmedicaLaboratories, Marksans Pharma, Yeva Therapeutics, Cure Medicines andMedley Pharmaceuticals due to quality issues.

The DAVN alsodenied rumours relating to Colgate toothpaste products containingtriclosan, a substance that could cause cancer, as reported by theUnited States' Food and Drug Administration.

The DAVN said that the matter was the subject of debate and that no final conclusion had been reached.

Todate, Vietnam's health sector is yet to receive any documents warningabout the use of Triclosan in products. Some of Colgate-PamoliveVietnam's toothpaste products were reported to contain a 0.3 percentconcentration of Triclosan, well within the legal limit, it said.

The health sector also requested the collection of cosmetic samples to inspect banned substances, including Triclosan.-VNA