Classification of Medicines
Minutes of Medicines Classification Committee Meetings
Minutes of Medicines Classification Committee (MCC) meetings are published below, starting with those of the 22nd meeting held in November 1999. These minutes replace the summary of recommendations which was published previously.
Following publication of the minutes, there is a 28-day consultation period in which to prepare for marketing changes to medicines whose classifications are about to change. During this period there is also an opportunity to object to recommendations. Intention to object to a recommendation should be made to the MCC Secretary (contact details below) within 10 days of the publication of the minutes (the actual date is given in Dates & Deadlines). Objections may be made only on safety grounds and must be to the recommendation itself rather than to the original submission. For more information see Classification Process. If a significant objection is received, the reclassification does not proceed and the issue is discussed at the next MCC meeting.
Barring any significant objection, recommendations come into effect when notified in the New Zealand Gazette. Proposed dates for the publication of Gazette notices can be found in Dates & Deadlines. Gazette notices can be found under Recent New Zealand Gazette Notices from the day of publication.
Although the MCC is a ministerial advisory committee, the Minister’s Delegate does not always accept its recommendations. If Medsafe does not support a Committee recommendation, it will submit a counter recommendation. The Minister’s Delegate considers both opinions and makes a decision. Whenever the decision of the Minister’s Delegate is different from the MCC recommendation, this will be recorded in the web page as a preamble to the minutes. It is important, therefore, to read any notes which precede the minutes of a MCC meeting.
All correspondence regarding the classification of medicines, including submissions to MCC, objections etc. should be sent to:
Secretary
Medicines Classification Committee
Medsafe
PO Box 5013
Wellington
Minutes of the thirty-eighth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 14 December 2007
Minutes of the thirty-seventh meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 17 May 2007
Minutes of the thirty-sixth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 8 February 2007
Minutes of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 9 June 2006
Minutes of the thirty-fourth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 9 June 2006
Outcome of Medicines Classification Committee Out-Of-Session Consultation Agenda 34A - December 2005
Minutes of the thirty-third meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 9 June 2005
Minutes of the thirty-second meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 25 November 2004
Minutes of the thirty-first meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 21 May 2004
Minutes of the thirtieth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 26 November 2003
Minutes of the twenty-ninth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 22 May 2003
Minutes of the twenty-eighth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 19 November 2002
Minutes of the twenty-seven meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 23 May 2002
Minutes of the twenty-sixth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 11 December 2001
Minutes of the twenty-fifth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 17 May 2001
Minutes of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 2 November 2000
Minutes of the twenty-third meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 25 May 2000
Minutes of the twenty-second meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee - 10 November 1999