Medsafe, the New Zealand medicines and medical devices safety authority, has given the green light to 11 cold and flu medications that contain pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have stated that they might be able to start supplying these products as early as June. This is much sooner than the initially expected date of 2025, according to Associate Health Minister David Seymour.
Seymour explained that the government has responded to the public’s demand for these medications in time for winter by swiftly changing the law and expediting Medsafe’s approval process. The next step is for pharmaceutical companies to deliver these medications to New Zealand, which they have indicated can be done by winter.
The minister believes that this will bring significant relief to New Zealanders suffering from colds and flu this winter. He also mentioned that people will now have access to the same effective cold and flu medications available in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US.
The Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill, which reclassifies pseudoephedrine from a Class B to a Class C controlled drug, was passed unanimously in the House this week. This change, along with amendments to the Medicines Regulations 1984, means that New Zealanders can now buy cold and flu medications containing pseudoephedrine from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Seymour criticized the previous ban on these medications, which was based on concerns that pseudoephedrine would be used to produce methamphetamine. He argued that criminal gangs have more effective ways of obtaining pseudoephedrine for meth production and that these methods should be the focus of law enforcement efforts.
Despite the changes, safeguards will remain to prevent misuse of these medications. Pseudoephedrine will continue to be a controlled drug and a precursor substance, with restrictions on imports and exports still in place. The New Zealand Police and Customs will also have the authority to seize any illicit products.
The government, according to Seymour, has fulfilled its promise to make principled decisions by eliminating unnecessary red tape and giving sick New Zealanders more freedom and choice in buying effective cold and flu medications. For more information, visit the Ministry of Health’s website.
