Gaviscon

Why was Reckitt's opinion sought on the generic name? Surely giving former holders of legalized monopolies a lock on the introduction of generics is just asking for them to delay the process? Which are the regulatory bodies involved anyway (the article fails to name them)?

edit: The Times clarifies matters. Firstly it took the BNF three years to decide that they had the right to issue a name at all. Then the BPC were persuaded that a “detailed quality specification” was required.

Why these two things could not be done in parallel, and why an extra specification wasn't required for Reckitt's own manufacturing in the first place, isn't stated.