New Zealand's Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 is a
national drug control law that classifies drugs into three classes,
or Schedules, based on their risk of harm:
- Class A, or First Schedule:
Very high risk of harm and illegal;
- Class B, or Second Schedule:
Very high risk of harm and on prescription;
- Class C, or Third Schedule:
Moderate risk of harm.
Pentobarbital, secobarbital, and amobarbital are subject to more legal restrictions and tougher penalties than other Class C substances.
Temazepam and flunitrazepam are subject to more legal restrictions and tougher penalties than other Class C substances.
- Fourth Schedule: Precursor substances.
The Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) makes Scheduling
decisions, based on scientific and medical evidence and/or
obligations. New Zealand
is a party to the Single Convention on
, the Convention on Psychotropic
, and the
United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances
. National Drug Policy New Zealand
notes, "The Conventions place certain obligations on signatory
countries. When the UN classifies (or re-classifies) a substance
under one of the above Conventions, it requires signatory countries
to amend their domestic legislation to ensure consistency with the
UN’s amendment. Accordingly, the impetus for some of the drugs to
be considered by the EACD will originate from decisions made at the