The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (as amended in 2019) enables temporary class drug orders to be made by the Minister of Health. An order immediately classifies a substance that may have a risk of harm to the public, as a temporary class drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 for a period of one year. During this period, the substance is treated as if it were a Class C1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. This means the penalties for import, manufacture, supply, possession and use of Class C1 controlled drugs apply with regard to temporary class drugs.
During the time a temporary class drug order is in force, the Minister of Health must seek advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) about the substance and its appropriate classification. For further information on the National Drug Policy Committees and the EACD please see the National Drug Policy Committees page.
A temporary class drug order expires one year after the order came into force, unless, before this date:
- the substance is classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975; or
- the Minister of Health revokes the order; or
- the Minister of Health renews the order for a further year (this can only be done once).
November 2023
The Minister of Health has approved the renewal of the temporary class drug orders for bromazolam and ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-INACA. These orders specify bromazolam and ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-INACA as Class C1 controlled drugs for a further one year period.
The renewed temporary class drug order for bromazolam is effective from 30 November 2023 and expires on 30 November 2024.
The renewed temporary class drug order for ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-INACA is effective from 22 December 2023 and expires on 22 December 2024.
- Renewal of Bromazolam TCDO: Gazette Notice
- Renewal of ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-INACA TCDO: Gazette Notice.
December 2022
The Minister of Health has issued a temporary class drug order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The order specified ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA, and MDMB-INACA as Class C1 controlled drugs for a one year period. This came into effect on 23 December 2022 and will expire on 22 December 2023 unless it is renewed for a further year.
A temporary class drug order request for ADB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-5Br-INACA was received by the Ministry of Health on 28 September 2022, and the request was further updated to include MDMB-INACA on 11 November 2022. These requests were received from the National Drug Intelligence Bureau.
ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA and MDMB-INACA are synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids are a group of substances that have been linked to more than 70 deaths in New Zealand.
- ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA, and MDMB-INACA: Gazette notice
- ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA, and MDMB-INACA: Request for a temporary class drug order (Word, 102 KB)
- ADB-5Br-INACA, MDMB-5Br-INACA, and MDMB-INACA: Request for a temporary class drug order (PDF, 206 KB)]
December 2022
The Minister of Health has issued a temporary class drug order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. This order classified bromazolam as a Class C1 controlled drug for a one year period. This came into effect on 1 December 2022 and will expire on 30 November 2023 unless it is renewed for a further year.
A temporary class drug order request for bromazolam was received by the Ministry of Health on 20 June 2022 from the National Drug Intelligence Bureau.
Bromazolam is a benzodiazepine derivative with no recognised medical use. It has been detected domestically and is implicated as a novel drug of abuse internationally.
- Bromazolam: Gazette notice
- Bromazolam: Request for a temporary class drug order (Word, 91 KB), (PDF, 156 KB)
February 2022
The Minister of Health has issued a temporary class drug order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. This order classified etizolam as a Class C1 controlled drug for a one year period. This came into effect on 17 February 2022 and will expire on 16 February 2023 unless it is renewed for a further year.
A temporary class drug order request for etizolam was received by the Ministry of Health on 29 June 2021 from the National Drug Intelligence Bureau.
Etizolam is a benzodiazepine derivative which has stronger effects than legally prescribed benzodiazepines. It has been implicated in deaths, both domestically and internationally.