Dunne's moves to control, not ban, new party pills welcomed

By Adam Ray

The Government has announced plans for tough new controls on the sale of party pills.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne wants it to be illegal to sell pills containing the chemical DMAA to anyone under 18, and also says there will be strict rules around labelling and packaging.

The new regulations will make it a lot harder to buy and sell party pills, but the industry is still welcoming them.

"Not ideal for marketers, but ideal for consumers and for safety," says drug campaigner Matt Bowden.

The Government has accepted advice to restrict the sale of DMAA, a substance derived from geranium oil which has become a popular ingredient in pills since the banning of BZP.

Under the new rules it will be illegal to sell or supply DMAA to anyone under 18 or advertise it or offer it as a gift or reward. The rules will also ban its sale or supply from service stations or alcohol shops, or places where children gather.

Mr Dunne also wants to lower the risk of overdosing by stopping DMAA being sold in large amounts, and wants plans put in place it is only available for sale as tablets or capsules.

Mr Bowden says any moves to discourage overdosing are long overdue, and that officials should be commended for controlling the sale of DMAA rather than banning it.

"If you ban something you lose control," says Mr Bowden. "It makes it more dangerous."

The new rules will be finalised over the next few months and should be place sometime next year.

3 News