Shenzhen has banned retail drugstores from selling abortion pills.

A newly published regulation has tightened the controls on abortion pills, local newspapers have reported.

The city's drug administration said abortion pills were over-the-counter medicines, but had been seriously abused all over the country, the Shenzhen Evening News reported. The drug supervisors hoped the regulation would help safeguard people's health and help authorities in management as supervision of the use of the pill would be a focus of their work.

Only licensed manufacturers and dealers are allowed to produce and sell abortion pills and sales are restricted to institutions and persons licensed in abortion services, according to the regulation.

All abortion pills should be used at the direction and guidance of doctors, and only gynecologists are allowed to prescribe abortion pills.

Abortion pill manufacturers and retailers should strictly examine buyers' credentials and keep complete sales records for at least three years. Buyers should keep purchase records for at least three years.

Violators are subject to punishment by health, family planning or drug supervision authorities.

(Shenzhen Daily March 16, 2005)