Is Xylazine legal in New Zealand?
- Legal status
- Xylazine is regulated in New Zealand as a Restricted Veterinary Medicine (RVM) under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997, usable only under veterinary authorisation; it is a veterinary sedative and is not a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised sale or use of xylazine is an ACVM Act offence rather than a Misuse of Drugs Act offence, as it is not a scheduled controlled drug.
- If prescribed or medical
- Available only through a veterinarian's authorisation (including for sedation and for the removal of deer velvet antler); no human use of xylazine is approved.
- Documentation
- Xylazine is a registered RVM sold and used under veterinary authorisation per MPI's ACVM controls.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with New Zealand’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
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