Psychoactive substance manufacturers to meet strict code

The latest step in controlling access to psychoactive substances has been taken with the publication of a draft Psychoactive Substances Code of Manufacturing Practice.

A consultation period targeted at manufacturers has now opened for the proposed Code.

The proposed Code outlines rigorous standards that manufacturers will be required to follow under the Psychoactive Substances Act which came into force in July 2013. It will be followed later by a comprehensive product-testing regime that will apply to both interim approved products and new products.

The Manager of the Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority, Dr Donald Hannah, says the driving purpose of the Act is that psychoactive substances pose no more than a low risk of harm to users.

“This Code should be no surprise to those with interim licences or with an interest in manufacturing in future. It focuses on making sure all psychoactive products on the market in New Zealand are made to a consistently high standard in clean, controlled environments.”

“This process will begin rapidly. From January 17, 2014, current holders of interim licence holders will have to be compliant with the first set of requirements under the Code,” Dr Hannah says.

Dr Hannah says the Code will build on progress already being made with the Act’s regulation of retailers and products.

The Act has created an interim licensing system for retailers, while banning sales outright from dairies and other convenience stores. The number of outlets has shrunk by an estimated 95 per cent, to around 170 at present.

An estimated three out of four products previously on sale are now banned. Retailers can only sell psychoactive products which have interim approval and are considered to be of low risk of harm.

Dr Hannah says after years of no product controls and widespread sales to people of any age, the Act is allowing effective control of psychoactive substances for the first time.

“The final regime will see substances requiring substantive testing for approval, while retailers are seeing that breaches of their responsibilities under the Act are being vigorously followed up by Police and the Authority.”

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