THE Ministry of Health is advising that there could be delays of up to a month before the reclassified nicotine patches and chewing gum hit the shelves as general sale medicines.

Nicotine patches and chewing gum were reclassified as general sale medicines on 17 August. Previously only pharmacies or smoking cessation clinics run by a health professional could sell the products.

However Senior Advisor Dr Stewart Jessamine said the product, which was originally a pharmacy only medicine, must be repackaged with new labels before it can be sold as a general sale medicine.

"The manufacturer needs to submit the new packaging to the Ministry of Health for approval. While the process for evaluation of new labels can be turned around quickly, to date, there have been no applications requesting changes."

Dr Jessamine said it is illegal for retailers and manufacturers to sell a product without consent. Those found in breach risk a penalty of up to $20,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a body corporate.

END

http://www.moh.govt.nz/media.html

© Scoop Media