Pseudoephedrine is an active ingredient in some medicines used to relieve nasal congestion (a blocked or stuffy nose) caused by colds, flu and allergies.
Recent changes to legislation have led to cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine being reclassified from prescription to restricted (pharmacist-only), which will allow the public to purchase these medicines from a pharmacist without a prescription.
Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine.
Over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine
Cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine may now be purchased following consultation with a pharmacist from a licensed pharmacy. The pharmacist must record information, including the person’s name and address, and can give advice as appropriate, including to people who should not take pseudoephedrine for clinical reasons.
Read more about pharmacist-only medicines on the Medsafe website.
The recent changes will not require pharmacists to sell cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine.
Bringing pseudoephedrine into New Zealand for personal use
The rules for bringing pseudoephedrine into New Zealand will not change.
People lawfully supplied with a medicine containing pseudoephedrine overseas may bring up to one month’s supply with them back to New Zealand for personal use to treat their medical condition. The medicine must physically accompany the traveller.
Travellers cannot bring in these medicines for friends and family. Find out more about bringing medicines into New Zealand. The New Zealand Customs website has more information about bringing medicines into New Zealand: Prohibitions and restrictions – New Zealand Customs Service.
Ephedrine
Medicines containing ephedrine are unaffected by the changes and will remain unavailable for purchase in New Zealand.
Restrictions on importation
People will not be able to import medicines containing pseudoephedrine for personal use by mail. This makes sure that only safe and effective pseudoephedrine medicines are available in New Zealand.
Medicines containing pseudoephedrine will still be controlled drugs. This means a licence will still be needed to import and/or export products containing pseudoephedrine. The border restrictions will remain unchanged, and the New Zealand Customs Service will retain its powers to seize illicit importations, and may prosecute. Importation without a licence is and will remain an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.