New Zealand Regulatory Update

March 2026

This is your opportunity to provide feedback on the classification of vitamin D in New Zealand.  

The Government is currently seeking feedback on a proposal to increase the amount of vitamin D permitted in a general sale medicine.
  At present, general sale medicines can contain up to 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) of vitamin D per daily dose. The consultation proposes increasing this limit to 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) per daily dose.

We encourage you to share your views and provide feedback.  
The deadline is 2 April.
Our position
 
Our feedback recommends that the Ministry of Health consider increasing the maximum daily dose for a general sale medicine to 100 micrograms (4,000 IU). This would align with international scientific and regulatory practice.
 
We are also recommending that the Dietary Supplement Regulations 1985 be updated at the same time to reflect the same maximum daily dose. This would ensure regulatory consistency and allow both medicines and supplements to contain this strength.
 
As it stands, the current proposal only considers updating the maximum daily dose under the Medicines Act 1981. If this change occurs without updating the Dietary Supplement Regulations, only registered medicines (and not supplements) would be permitted to contain higher strengths of vitamin D.
Natural Health Products Bill

The Ministry of Health is developing a standalone Natural Health Products Bill to create a dedicated regulatory framework for natural health products following the repeal of the Therapeutic Products Act 2023.

As of March 2026, the bill has not yet been introduced to Parliament and no timeline for its passage has been confirmed.

Our commitment:

FxMed will be working closely with the Natural Health Alliance (NHA). Together with the NHA, we are committed to ensuring sensible, risk-proportionate legislation.

What can you do?

Throughout the engagement process for the new Bill for Natural Health Products, we encourage you to make your feelings known to any industry organisations that you belong to, your local MPs plus the Minister and their team.

Brief timeline of key regulatory events
September 2025

The Government announced it will be introducing legislation to amend the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

Read the press release from Minister of Health, Hon Simeon Brown: Health workforce regulations to put patients first.

The aim of these changes is to ensure health workforce regulation aligns with patient needs, health system priorities and the Government’s health targets.

Next steps

The Ministry of Health will now support the Government with drafting legislation for a bill. The bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the months ahead.

December 2024
The Therapeutic Products Act 2023 has been officially repealed!
November 2024
The New Zealand Ministry of Health presented a public webinar on the planned Medical Products Bill. A recording, Q&A document and presentation slides are available for those interested in medical products and medical devices.
 
The Ministry has indicated there will also be a webinar regarding the new bill for Natural Health Products but have yet to announce a date.
October 2024
The Ministry of Health is developing two replacement bills: the Medical Products Bill and the Natural Health Products Bill. The Medical Products Bill is expected to pass in 2026 and come into effect in 2028, while timing for the Natural Health Products Bill has not yet been confirmed.