The Government is moving to restrict sales of DMAA, an ingredient in a new generation of party pills.
Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne said the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) had considered the risk posed by 1,3 dimethylamylamine DMAA and advised it be scheduled as a restricted substance.
The scheduling would mean a prohibition on:
- selling or supplying DMAA to anyone under 18 years of age
- advertising DMAA
- offering it a gift or reward
Products containing DMAA would also have to meet strict labelling and packaging requirements.
Mr Dunne said he had also asked the Ministry of Health to look at legislation prohibiting the sale of large quantities of the pure chemical form of DMAA.
This would outlaw the sale of the substance, in any form other than as a tablet or capsule.
The Ministry would also consult the "party pill" industry on controls on the maximum dose of DMAA per tablet or capsule.
Mr Dunne said the Ministry was working with other government agencies on the underlying policy and regulatory issues that needed to be worked through before DMAA could be scheduled as a restricted substance.
"I am releasing the advice of the EACD now to warn consumers of the known risks of this substance and to place the "party pill" industry on notice that strict controls around products containing DMAA will be forthcoming," said Mr Dunne.
