Notice Type
Departmental
Notice Title

Restriction on Supply of Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine-Approval to Prescribe, Supply and Administer Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine

Pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, I, Stewart Jessamine, Group Manager, Medsafe, Ministry of Health, acting under delegated authority from the Minister of Health, hereby make the following approval:
That from 8 September 2011 ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (controlled drugs described in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975) may be prescribed or supplied or administered by the classes of persons described, and in
the circumstances set out in the Schedule.
Schedule
Prescribing
From 8 September 2011:
The following class of persons may prescribe ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products for a patient under his or her care:
- Medical practitioners registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
Supply
From 8 September 2011:
The following class of persons may supply ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products in the following circumstances:
- Any pharmacists registered with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, in the course of his or her employment as a pharmacist, may supply ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products pursuant to a prescription issued by:
- a medical practitioner registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
Administration
From 8 September 2011:
The following class of persons may administer ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products:
- Medical practitioners registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
- Any person who is caring for a patient, for whom ephedrine or pseudoephedrine has been prescribed by any registered medical practitioner described above may administer the controlled drug to that patient in accordance with the directions issued by the registered medical practitioner.
Dated at Wellington this 6th day of September 2011.
DR STEWART JESSAMINE, Group Manager, Medsafe, Ministry of Health.