Medicines Act 1981

Dealings with medicines and medical devices - Exemptions

28: Exemptions in respect of herbal remedies

You could also call this:

"Rules for making and selling herbal remedies without following some laws"

You can make and sell herbal remedies without following some rules. You must do this as part of your business and only after someone asks you to use your own judgment to decide the treatment they need. You must also follow other rules in the Act and any regulations made under it. You can make and sell herbal remedies if you follow certain conditions. You can only say what plant the remedy is made from and how it was made, but not give it any other name. You cannot write anything that recommends how to use the remedy. You must still follow other rules in the Act and any regulations made under it when making and selling herbal remedies. The rules in section 17 and sections 17 and 20 to 24 do not apply if you follow these conditions.

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This page was last updated on 27 October 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM55427.

Topics:

Health and wellbeing > Public healthHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare servicesBusiness > Industry rules

27: Exemptions for veterinarians and certain registered health practitioners, or

"Rules for vets and some health workers about handling medicines"

29: Exemption for medicine required by medical practitioner, or

"Doctors can get special medicine for patients, and sellers must report it to the government."

Part 2Dealings with medicines and medical devices
Exemptions

28Exemptions in respect of herbal remedies

Notwithstanding section 17, but subject to the other provisions of this Act and to any regulations made under this Act, any person may, in the course of a business carried on by that person, manufacture, pack, and label, or sell or supply, any herbal remedy for administration to a particular person after being requested by or on behalf of that person to use his own judgment as to the treatment required.
Notwithstanding anything in sections 17 and 20 to 24, but subject to the other provisions of this Act and to any regulations made under this Act, any person may manufacture, pack, and label any herbal remedy, and sell or supply any herbal remedy, if the remedy is or is to be sold or supplied—
under a designation that specifies only the plant from which it is made and the process to which the plant has been subjected during the production of the remedy, and does not apply any other name to the remedy; and
without any written recommendation (whether by means of a labelled container or package or a leaflet or in any other way) as to the use of the remedy.

Compare

Medicines Act 1968 ss 12, 56 (UK)