Bill set to repeal Therapeutic Products Act 2023
The government has initiated steps toward overhauling regulations for medicines, medical devices, and natural health products by introducing a bill to repeal the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) 2023.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said that this move is a response to widespread concerns from the industry and consumers.
"The TPA would have led to the overregulation of low-risk products, imposed unnecessary costs, and created more barriers to access to medicines and medical products," Costello said.
Initially, the TPA was not set to be implemented until September 2026 since it would have required establishing a new regulatory agency and IT systems. Repealing it now aims to prevent disruptions for businesses and consumers, maintaining the current operations without forcing adjustments.
"There is no question that the current Medicines Act is outdated, and we are already working on a modern, fit-for-purpose regulatory system for medicines and medical devices, along with a separate system for natural health products,” Costello said.
The government is committed to introducing new legislation later this year that will protect consumers while minimizing regulatory burdens on the industry. This effort is part of the commitments made in the National-New Zealand First and National-ACT coalition agreements.
In the interim, the existing Medicines Act and Dietary Supplement Regulations will continue to govern the industry.
