SB407 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lowell Barron

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, over-the-counter products, sales further regulated, on-line electronic verification system operated by Criminal Justice Information Center, penalties, Drug Abuse Task Force, established, members, Sec. 20-2-190 am'd.; Act 2009-283, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

SB407 would tighten regulation of over-the-counter ephedrine/pseudoephedrine products with online purchaser verification, stricter sale limits and recordkeeping, and expanded state efforts to combat methamphetamine through a new electronic tracking system and a revised Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force.

What This Bill Does

It requires retailers to use an online, no-cost verification system operated by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center to confirm that a purchaser is allowed to buy products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. It introduces quantity limits, packaging and storage rules, age and identification requirements, and mandatory sales records; violations carry escalating penalties. It also expands the Alabama Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force, mandates training programs, and creates a real-time drug abuse information system to aid law enforcement, while enabling a statewide electronic sales tracking system to monitor OTC sales and issue stop-sale alerts.

Who It Affects

• Retailers and their employees who sell OTC products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine; they must verify buyers online, follow packaging/storage rules, collect IDs, maintain records, and may face penalties for noncompliance.
• Purchasers/consumers of ephedrine/pseudoephedrine OTC products; they must be at least 18, show ID (or accept two alternative forms), and not exceed daily/30-day purchase limits, with sales tracked and could be denied if limits are exceeded.

Key Provisions

• Establishes an online, real-time electronic verification system (operated by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center) to confirm purchaser eligibility before completing sales of OTC products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine; system data is available to state/retailers at no cost and can generate stop-sale alerts; override procedure exists for fear of bodily harm and such overrides are logged.
• Imposes packaging and storage rules: sole active-ingredient products (≥30 mg per tablet) must be blister-packed and behind a counter; mixed products must be behind a counter or under video surveillance with 30-day data retention; limits on per-purchase and per-30-day quantities (no more than two packages per sale; not more than 6 grams per day and 9 grams per 30 days for total ephedrine/pseudoephedrine).
• Requires purchaser age 18+, government-issued photo ID (or two alternative IDs), and signing/keeping a special register; records include purchaser name/address, date/time, product name, and total grams sold; records retained for specified periods and available for inspection; penalties apply for noncompliance with these requirements.
• Creates and expands the Alabama Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force with diverse membership (including state agencies, law enforcement groups, and legal associations); tasks include developing training/education programs for employees, advising the ABC Board, reporting to Legislature, and guiding the creation of a drug abuse information system in CJIC to track illegal drug activity.
• Establishes a real-time electronic sales tracking system to monitor OTC ephedrine/pseudoephedrine sales, capable of data sharing with law enforcement and compatible with existing systems; includes a stop-sale alert system and an override feature; penalties for failing to maintain required records or comply with the system.
• Requires registration for wholesalers, manufacturers, and repackagers with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; imposes license requirements, reporting, and potential license cancellations/forfeitures for violations, plus penalties for selling without proper licenses.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances