Renewal of Temporary Class Drug Order for Etomidate

Publication date:

21 September 2026

Status: In force
Commencement date: 9 December 2026
End date: 8 December 2027

Text of renewal notice

Pursuant to section 4F(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, I, the Honourable Simeon Brown, Minister of Health, renew the temporary class drug order (TCDO) for the substance etomidate as a temporary class drug for the purposes of sections 4C and 4D of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (“Act”).

On 1 December 2025 I gave notice specifying etomidate as a temporary class drug for the purposes of section 4C of the Act, effective from 9 December 2025. This TCDO will expire on 8 December 2026 unless earlier renewed or revoked in accordance with section 4F of the Act.

I am satisfied that this TCDO for the substance specified:

1. is currently in place; and
2. has not been previously renewed; and
3. is being renewed to allow sufficient time to obtain the advice sought under section 4E of the Act.

Date of Order

The renewal of this TCDO will take effect on 9 December 2026 and will expire on 8 December 2027, unless otherwise revoked as specified in section 4F of the Act.

Terms and Conditions

This renewal of this TCDO is subject to terms and conditions as specified under sections 4D, 4E and 4F of the Act.

Etomidate will continue to be treated for all purposes as if it were a controlled drug that is specified or described in Part 1 of Schedule 3 of the Act (Class C1).

Dated at Wellington this 14th day of September 2026.

Hon SIMEON BROWN, Minister of Health.

Minimum legislative information

Title	Renewal of Temporary Class Drug Order for Etomidate
Empowering provisions	Section 4F(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Date made	14 September 2026
Date of publication	21 September 2026
Administering agency	Ministry of Health

This is secondary legislation published under the Secondary Legislation Act.