Medicine Company Seeks to Move Pseudoephedrine From Pharmacy Counter to Over‑the‑Counter Shelf

A medicine company has filed a bid to remove pseudoephedrine, a common cold and flu medication, from the pharmacy counter and make it available over the counter. The drug was made prescription‑only in 2011 after the New Zealand government tightened controls to curb its use in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. The company’s proposal would allow consumers to purchase the medication directly from pharmacies without a prescription, potentially simplifying access for those suffering from colds and flu. The bid is now under review by the Medicines and Related Substances Authority, which will decide whether the change meets safety and public‑health criteria. If approved, the drug would be sold like other non‑prescription cold remedies, altering the current regulatory framework for pseudoephedrine.