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Medicines Act 1981

Dealings with medicines and medical devices - Miscellaneous provisions

44: Containers and packages of medicines

You could also call this:

"Medicine must be in safe containers with correct labels"

Illustration for Medicines Act 1981

When you sell or give someone medicine, it must be in a special container. The container must not let the medicine leak out and must be able to be closed again after some of the medicine is used. The container must also be of a certain type and have a label with the right information on it. If the container is inside another package, the package must also be of a certain type and have the right label. But if the label on the container says you must use all the medicine at once, and you probably will use it all at once, then the container does not need to be able to be closed again. If you do not follow these rules when you are selling or giving someone medicine, you can get in trouble with the law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM55467.

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Health and wellbeing > Public healthHealth and wellbeing > Healthcare services
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Part 2Dealings with medicines and medical devices
Miscellaneous provisions

44Containers and packages of medicines

  1. Except as may be permitted by regulations made under this Act, no person shall, in the course of any business, pack, store, sell, supply, or cause to be transported any medicine, unless—

  2. the medicine is in a container that—
    1. is impervious to the medicine; and
      1. is so constructed that it can be readily and effectively resealed after any portion of the contents has been used; and
        1. is of the prescribed character or type; and
          1. is labelled in the prescribed manner; and
          2. if the container is enclosed in a package that is required to be of a prescribed character or type, or to be labelled in a prescribed manner, the package is of that character or type, or is labelled in that manner.

            1. Notwithstanding subsection (1)(a)(ii), where—

            2. the container bears a label with directions to the effect that the whole of the contents must be used immediately on opening; and
              1. the quantity and nature of the contents are such that it is unlikely that less than the whole of the contents will be used on any one occasion—
                  1. the container need not be of a type that can be readily and effectively resealed.

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

                Compare
                • 1960 No 97 s 22