Medicines containing pseudoephedrine are set to return to New Zealand pharmacy shelves in 2025, the Government announced today.
The move comes despite fears from some experts over the drug's return fuelling crime.
Pseudoephedrine — a strong decongestant — is a core ingredient in methamphetamine production and is currently only accessible with a prescription. It was placed behind counters in 2011 as crime linked to the meth precursor began to rise.
But the ACT Party campaigned on reversing the ban on off-the-shelf sales ahead of last year's general election, arguing "New Zealanders are being denied decent cold and flu medication".
Today, ACT leader and Associate Health Minister David Seymour confirmed the policy is being enacted.
"Taking into account supply chains and the ability for companies to prepare products, it is expected the medication will be back on shelves in 2025," he said this morning.
"Cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine will be reclassified from prescription to restricted medicines, which will allow the public to purchase these medicines from a pharmacy without a prescription.
"Pseudoephedrine was banned because of fears it would be used for methamphetamine production. The reality is that the gangs have far more effective ways of obtaining pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine and we should tackle these head on instead."
He said the move was about cutting red tape and allowing Kiwis greater freedom.
"Alternative cold and flu medicines have been shown to be no more effective than a placebo," Seymour continued.
"New Zealanders are being denied decent cold and flu medication, but the gangs are selling more methamphetamine than ever."
Some pharmacists have told 1News they fear that ACT's plan could put workers in danger.
Retired pharmacist Warren Flaunty said that his pharmacy was "constantly burgled" for pseudoephedrine when it was on the shelves, and Waikato GP Dr Jo Scott-Jones said the alternatives already on the shelves are a good replacement.
But Seymour argued a different view.
"The use of these medicines will still be subject to a level of oversight as consumers will be required to purchase them directly from a pharmacist," he said. "Restrictions on importing and exporting these medicines will also be retained.
"Removing the ineffective ban on the sale of pseudoephedrine is a principled decision to remove unnecessary red tape and give New Zealanders greater choice and freedom over their own lives."
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The change will be enacted through a bill amending the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and changes to the Medicines Regulations 1984.
Pseudoephedrine is available under the brand name Sudafed in New Zealand.
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