FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What position does the group take on animal testing?

We have never needed to be involved in animal testing of our products. Our pharmaceutical products are formulated using established well known ingredients so the various regulatory bodies throughout the world accept the existing references and continued monitoring of the various actives in the human population. Likewise our formulated non-pharmaceuticals products are not tested on animals. We actively choose alternative methods to demonstrate product safety and effectiveness.


Exactly what day of a month does expiry refer to?

Our expiry date means that the product can be used up to the last day of the month indicated, provided it has been stored according to the instructions on the pack.

Once a pack has been opened the expiry date may no longer hold true, for instance it is generally considered that liquids and creams (from any manufacturer, not just us) should be discarded after 4 weeks of use because the preservative system only has a fixed capacity to deal with contamination of the product with micro-organisms each time it is used.


Do you use alcohol in your products?

We try to avoid alcohol in our formulations. Our flavours are all alcohol free and we do not use ethyl alcohol as an ingredient in any of our products that are to be taken internally. Occasionally ethyl alcohol is used as part of the extraction process in preparing natural ingredients in which case the word 'Tincture' normally appears in the ingredients list; however the actual amount of ethyl alcohol in the finished product will be extremely small.


Do you use animal materials in your products?

The use of animal products is avoided where possible. However bovine gelatine remains the material of choice for producing capsule shells and bovine tallow is still the standard basis for producing soap bars. Some of our products contain beeswax.


What about BSE/TSE/ Mad Cow Disease?

The gelatine used in pharmaceutical products in Europe is very carefully regulated and only comes from sources certified as taking the correct procedures to minimise the risk of specified risk material entering the production process both by monitoring the herds and by control of the extraction process.


Can I buy your products directly from you?

We don't supply our products directly to the public. Nor do we condone the personal sale of pharmaceutical products across national boundaries. With representation in over 90 territories it is likely that you can find our products in a pharmacy near where you live. Also remember that due to national regulatory requirements and differing climate the products may have slightly different formulation, dose or packaging from one market to the next.


I purchased one of your products while visiting another country; can I buy it in my own market?

Almost certainly yes!

However there are a few markets where a product may not be available for some reason. For instance our Bepro Cough syrup is based on codeine and can be freely sold without prescription from pharmacies in the UK yet it cannot be sold in the UAE (nor should any personal medicine containing codeine be taken into the UAE). Noradran is an extremely popular cough mixture in Cyprus but we do not market it in the UK because we have many other cough mixtures in our range. Our Paxidorm brand of sleep aid products is sold under various third party brand names in the UK.

Some typical commercial questions

Can I represent Alinter Group in my market?

We are always interested in new outlets for our products but it is fair to say we already have an extensive system of agreements in place through the world. It is worthwhile checking in your local pharmacy to see if our products are available before contacting us. Remember that selling pharmaceuticals involves a lot of time and expense both in registration of the products with the authorities and also in post marketing pharmacovigilence. If you wish to contact us please use the web contact form provided.


Would Alinter Group distribute our own product through its network?

It may be possible. Zenith Pharmaceuticals Ltd distributes third party products into the UK and/or world markets using our existing network. Please feel welcome to contact us using our web contact form.