Online nitrous oxide sale to be investigated

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton will ask the Health Ministry to investigate the sale of nitrous oxide on online auction site Trade Me.

NewstalkZB reported that Trade Me had pulled the ad, banned the seller and taken steps to ensure nitrous oxide was not sold on the site again.

Mr Anderton said he would ask the ministry to investigate the issue, and contact Trade Me and the seller.

Nitrous oxide is used as a propellant in the food and catering industry but people also use it to get high by inhaling it. It was made a prescription-only medicine two years ago but exemptions apply to the catering industry.

- NZPA