THE HAGUE, 18/02/06 - The Lower House will approve allowing certain medicines to be sold everywhere. It is not yet clear which medicines these will be.

Health Minister Hans Hoogervorst wants sales of a wide range of so-called self-medications such as painkillers, nasal sprays and athlete's foot creams to be permitted in all supermarkets and petrol stations. A House majority rejected this, fearing medical complications in selling painkillers without expert advice.

A proposal by the Christian democrats (CDA) and Labour (PvdA) places restrictions on the list of freely saleable medicines. The Council for the Assessment of Medicines (College ter Beoordeling Geneesmiddelen) will now decide which self-medications can be sold everywhere without risk. This proposal has received broad support in the House.