US health regulators delay new rules for over-the-counter drugs, again

US health regulators have delayed the effective date for new rules about over-the-counter drugs. This means drug manufacturers will have more time before they must meet new requirements for selling certain nonprescription products.

This rule was supposed to create a new category of over-the-counter drugs that could only be sold with an "additional condition for nonprescription use." This condition might have involved things like mandatory patient questionnaires or pharmacist consultations. The repeated delays mean that this new category, and the potential for more complex over-the-counter medications, remains on hold.