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Medicines Act 1981

Dealings with medicines and medical devices - Quality and standards

39: Adulteration of medicines

You could also call this:

"Don't tamper with medicines to keep people safe."

Illustration for Medicines Act 1981

You must not add or take away anything from a medicine that can harm it. You must not sell or give away a medicine that has been harmed by adding or taking away something. If you do either of these things, you are breaking the law and can get in trouble.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM55448.

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Health and wellbeing > Public healthHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare services
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38: Restrictions on sale of medical devices, or

"Rules for Selling Medical Devices Safely"

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40: Compliance with standards, or

"Medicines and devices must meet safety standards"

Part 2Dealings with medicines and medical devices
Quality and standards

39Adulteration of medicines

  1. No person shall—

  2. add any substance to, or abstract any substance from, a medicine so as to affect injuriously the composition of the medicine, with intent that the medicine shall be sold or supplied in that state:
    1. sell or supply any medicine the composition of which has been injuriously affected by the addition or abstraction of any substance.

      1. Every person commits an offence against this Act who contravenes subsection (1).

      Compare
      • Medicines Act 1968 s 63 (UK)