The rules around the sale of legal highs may be on hold but Wanganui's district council is on the verge of putting its own control policy out for public consultation.
The Government passed urgent legislation in April to remove from sale the remaining 42 psychoactive substances (legal highs) which had been given temporary approval while an approved testing regime for the synthetic drugs was developed. It could be late next year before that is sorted out partly due to concern about the level of animal testing required. Once the regime is in place, manufacturers could have to wait up to 18 months for proof of "low-risk".
But the imminent ban does not mean legal highs will be forever unavailable for public sale and for that reason the Wanganui council is pressing on with its own local approved product policy (LAPP).
Charlotte Almond, council strategy and development manager, said council officers had been working closely with Safer Whanganui in developing the draft LAPP.
"A draft of this policy, along with supporting documentation, will be going forward to the next strategy and policy committee meeting before going out for public consultation," Ms Almond said.