Community, Local Government and Industry views sought on psychoactive substances regime
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has welcomed the release of a consultation paper on Regulations to the
Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.
The paper, prepared by the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority, seeks feedback to help shape the final
regulatory powers alongside the Act and ensure robust, future-proof controls are in place to regulate the psychoactive
substance market.
“A regulated psychoactive substances market, a key element of the Psychoactive Substances Act, always involved a staged
approach, and this latest stage of the process brings closer the full implementation of this legislation”, says Mr
Dunne.
The Act significantly tightened the access and availability of these products, and regulations will further strengthen
these controls. Before the Act came into force some 200-300 ‘legal high’ products were sold from an estimated
3,000-4,000 outlets nationwide. There are now only 41 products sold from fewer than 170 outlets.
It is illegal to sell or give approved products to anyone under the age of 18.
The consultation will canvass a range of areas, including information requirements for licence applications, labelling
and packaging conditions and sale and advertising restrictions.
“While the existence of these products is unpalatable to many, the fact is they are not going to go away so public
safety must be the primary consideration. I encourage all with an interest to contribute constructively to this
process,” says Mr Dunne.
“It is my expectation that that when the final regulations are in place, and all local authorities have played their
part in implementing Local Approved Product Policies (LAPPs), the lay of the land will be markedly different to the wild
west situation that existed prior to July 2013”, says
Mr Dunne.
Details on how to make a submission can be seen on the Ministry of Health website where people can also view other information about the Act.
ENDS