N.M. Stat. § 26-1-11 — NM Code / Chapter 26 / Article 1 / Section 26-1-11
§ 26-1-11. Drug or device; misbranding
Status: in_force

A. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded:

(1) if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

(2) if in package form, unless it bears a label containing the name and place of the business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor and an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure or numerical count; provided that reasonable variations shall be permitted and exemptions as to small packages shall be allowed in accordance with regulations prescribed by the board or issued under the federal act;

(3) if it is a drug subject to the restrictions on sale contained in Subparagraph 1 of Subsection (b) of 21 U.S.C. Section 353 , which provisions describe those substances commonly referred to as “legend drugs”, and if the drug is in package form, unless it bears a label on its immediate container, and on any outer container if such there be, including the name and place of the business of the manufacturer of the finished dosage form and the name and place of business of the packer or distributor and an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure or numerical count;

(4) if any word, statement or other information required by or under authority of the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed with such conspicuousness, as compared with other words, statements, designs or devices in the labeling, and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

(5) if it is for use by man and contains any quantity of a narcotic or hypnotic substance or any chemical derivative of such substance, which derivative after investigation has been found to be and designated as habit-forming by regulations issued pursuant to Section 502(d) or 511 of the federal act, unless its label bears the name and quantity or proportion of such substance or derivative and in juxtaposition therewith the statement “Warning-May be habit-forming” and meets labeling requirements of the federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970; 1 or

(6) if it is a drug, unless the label bears, to the exclusion of any other nonproprietary name except the applicable systematic chemical name or the chemical formula, the established name, as defined in this section, of the drug, and in case it is fabricated from two or more active ingredients, the established name and quantity of each active ingredient, including the kind and quantity or proportion of any alcohol and also including the established name and quantity or proportion of any bromides, ether, chloroform, acetanilid, acetphenetidin, antipyrine, amidropyrine, atropine, hyoscine, hyoscyamine, arsenic, digitalis, digitalis glycosides, mercury, ouabain, strophanthin, strychnine, thyroid or any derivative or preparation of any such substances contained therein; provided that the requirements for stating the quantity of the active ingredients, other than the quantity of those specifically named in this section, shall apply only to prescription drugs; provided, further, that to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this section is impracticable, exemptions shall be allowed under regulations promulgated by the board or under the federal act.

B. As used in this section, the term “ established name ” with respect to a drug or ingredient means:

(1) the applicable official name designated pursuant to Section 508 of the federal act; or

(2) if there is no such name and such drug or such ingredient is an article recognized in an official compendium, then the official title in such compendium or if neither applies, then the common or usual name, if any, of such drug or of such ingredient; provided that where an article is recognized in the United States pharmacopoeia and in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia under different official titles, the official title used in the United States pharmacopoeia shall apply unless it is labeled and offered for sale as a homeopathic drug, in which case the official title used in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia shall apply.

C. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded unless its labeling bears adequate directions for use and such adequate warnings against use in those pathological conditions or by children where its use may be dangerous to health or against unsafe dosage or methods or duration of administration or application, in such manner and form as are necessary for the protection of users; provided that where adequate directions for use as applied to any drug or device are not necessary for the protection of the public health, the board shall promulgate regulations exempting such drug or device from such requirements; provided, further, that articles exempted under regulations issued under Section 502(f) of the federal act may also be exempt.

D. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it purports to be a drug the name of which is recognized in an official compendium unless it is packed and labeled as prescribed therein; provided that the method of packing may be modified with the consent of the board. Whenever a drug is recognized in both the United States pharmacopoeia and the homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States, it shall be subject to the requirements of the United States pharmacopoeia with respect to packaging and labeling unless it is labeled and offered for sale as a homeopathic drug, in which case it shall be subject to the provisions of the homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States and not those of the United States pharmacopoeia; provided, further, that in the event of inconsistency between the requirements of this subsection and those of Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of this section as to the name by which the drug or its ingredients shall be designated, the requirements of Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of this section shall prevail.

E. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it has been found by the board or under the federal act to be a drug liable to deterioration unless it is packaged in such form and manner and its label bears the statement of such precautions as the regulations issued by the board or under the federal act require as necessary for the protection of public health. No regulation shall be established for any drug recognized in an official compendium until the board has informed the appropriate body charged with the revision of such compendium of the need for such packaging or labeling requirements and such body has failed within a reasonable time to prescribe such requirements.

F. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is a drug and its container is so made, formed or filled as to be misleading or if it is an imitation of another drug or if it is offered for sale under the name of another drug or if it bears a copy, counterfeit or colorable imitation of a trademark, label, container or identifying name or design of another drug.

G. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is dangerous to health when used in the dosage or with the frequency or duration prescribed, recommended or suggested in the labeling.

H. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is or purports to be or is represented as a drug composed wholly or partly of insulin unless it is from a batch with respect to which a certificate or release has been issued pursuant to Section 506 of the federal act and such certificate or release is in effect with respect to such drug.

I. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is or purports to be or is represented as a drug composed wholly or partly of any kind of penicillin, streptomycin, chlortetracycline, chloramphenicol, bacitracin or any other antibiotic drug or any derivative thereof unless it is from a batch with respect to which a certificate or release has been issued pursuant to Section 507 of the federal act and such certificate or release is in effect with respect to such drug; provided that this subsection shall not apply to any drug or class of drugs exempted by regulations promulgated under Section 507(c) or (d) of the federal act. For the purpose of this subsection, the term “ antibiotic drug ” means any drug intended for use by man containing any quantity of any chemical substance which is produced by a microorganism and which has the capacity to inhibit or destroy microorganisms in dilute solution, including the chemically synthesized equivalent of any such substance.

J. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is a color additive, the intended use of which in or on drugs is for the purpose of coloring only, unless its packaging and labeling are in conformity with such packaging and labeling requirements applicable to such color additive, prescribed under the provisions of Subsection C of Section 26-1-9 NMSA 1978 or of the federal act.

K. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded, in the case of any dangerous drug distributed or offered for sale in this state, unless the manufacturer, packer, distributor or retailer thereof includes in all advertisements and other descriptive printed matter issued or caused to be issued by the manufacturer, packer or distributor or retailer with respect to that drug a true statement of:

(1) the established name as defined in Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of this section;

(2) the formula showing quantitatively each ingredient of the drug to the extent required for labels under Section 502(e) of the federal act; and

(3) such other information in brief summary relating to side effects and contraindications as are required in regulations issued under the federal act.

L. A drug or device shall be deemed to be misbranded if a trademark, trade name or other identifying mark, imprint or device of another or any likeness of the foregoing has been placed thereon or upon its container with intent to defraud.

M. Drugs and devices which are, in accordance with the practice of the trade, to be processed, labeled or repacked in substantial quantities at establishments other than those where originally packaged in accordance with requirements of the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act shall be deemed to be misbranded unless such drugs or devices are being delivered, manufactured, processed, labeled, repacked or otherwise held in compliance with regulations issued by the board or under the federal act.

N. A dangerous drug, except for drugs declared dangerous pursuant to Subsection B of Section 26-1-18 NMSA 1978 , shall be deemed to be misbranded if, at any time prior to dispensing, its label fails to bear either of the following legends:

(1) “Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.”; or

(2) “RX only”.