Selling or possessing synthetic cannabis and party pills is banned from Thursday.
MPs sitting under urgency tonight passed the Psychoactive Substances Amendment Bill by 117 votes to 14, banning all such substances effective from midnight Thursday.
When the Psychoactive Substances Act was passed last year, some products were allowed to stay on the market. It's understood there are 36 products still on shelves.
The Act, expected to receive Royal assent on Wednesday, removes all remaining psychoactive products on the market. Any remaining products will need to be destroyed at the cost of the owner.
It will be an offence to possess, supply or sell psychoactive products. Those in possession of products are being advised to return them to the retailer they purchased them from.
The Act also bans the use of animal testing data in support of approvals of psychoactive products. Information gathered from prior animal testing will also not be taken into consideration as products re-apply for approval.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says while animal testing remains a necessary and important component of the process for developing a number of important products, such as medicines, the government does not believe such testing was justifiable for the recreational drug market.
Mr Ryall says all licence holders will have to tell the Government what psychoactive products they currently have and how they will dispose of them.
The Crown will not pay compensation to businesses affected as he says public health objectives outweigh any negatives.
Mr Ryall has warned people not to attempt to stock up as possession will also be illegal.
Following the recalls, products will have to prove they pose a low risk to be allowed back on shelves.
Mr Ryall says the intent of the original Psychoactive Substances Act remains, with approved low risk products able to come to market in the future when regulations are made.
The minister says information gathered from overseas animal testing will be allowed to be used by the Government to "protect individuals" but will not be allowed to be used in support of any product approvals.
Labour supported the bill. Labour MP for Palmerston North, Iain Lees-Galloway told Parliament he is glad the Government "buckled to public pressure".
The Greens abstained on the bill, saying they are concerned it will create a "dangerous black market" of untested drugs.
Source: ONE News
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