Open consultations

Consultation on proposed changes to fees and levy for 2027/2028

The Pharmacy Council is seeking views from members of the pharmacy profession, pharmacy organisations, patients and other interested parties on the following proposed changes:

• Increasing both the disciplinary levy and the Annual Practising Certificate (APC) fee  
• Changes to some specific fees
• A cost of living uplift to all other miscellaneous fees, and
• Changing how we charge for the cost of banking system payments

Information on the proposed changes is available in the full consultation document or the summary document (links to the left).

Feedback can be sent to [email protected] or via our online survey.

Submissions close at 5pm, Monday 23 November 2026.

Previous consultations

Proposed changes to the Recognised Equivalent and non-Recognised Equivalent Qualification Routes

In March 2026, the Pharmacy Council asked for feedback from individuals and organisations on proposed changes to the Recognised Equivalent and non-Recognised Equivalent Qualification Routes.

You can read a summary of results and next steps following the consultation. Much of the work will need to be gazetted into secondary legislation, and then we will need to implement the changes with updates to our IT system, forms, policies, guidance and communications. While some changes may take effect immediately after gazetting, others may not be in place until the end of 2026.   

Adding a new prescribed qualification for entry to the Intern Pharmacist and Pharmacist scopes of practice

In July 2025, the Pharmacy Council was seeking feedback from individuals and organisations on the following proposal:  

The addition of the University of Waikato’s Master of Pharmacy Practice as a prescribed qualification for the Intern Pharmacist Scope of Practice and Pharmacist Scope of Practice

January 2026 – The Master of Pharmacy Practice was added as a prescribed qualification.

Pharmacist Prescribers scope of practice – Engagement on changes under consideration

The document set out options for changes in regulation for pharmacist prescribers.

In January 2025, the Pharmacy Council sought feedback from individuals and organisations to prompt further sector-wide discussions, consider pending changes that will support pharmacist prescribers’ practice, and then where sensible, identify changes to keep regulation proportionate for managing the risk to patients’ safety.

Disciplinary levy and APC Fee for the 2025/26 Practising Year

We:

• invited feedback on the Council’s proposal to increase the Disciplinary levy and Annual Practising Certificate (APC) fee for the 2025/26 practising year.
• the consultation period ran from 31 October 2024 to 9 December 2024.
• Council published all submissions, our responses, the summary document of our decision, and our media release on 24 January 2025. 

Earlier consultations

Click here for earlier closed consultations

Council contributions to external consultations

Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation

Read our submission on the Ministry of Health’s public consultation on health workforce regulation. 

Medicines Classification Committee Maviret submission

Pharmacy Council submission on MCC Marviret proposal

Read our submission on proposed change to prescription classification statement to include provision by pharmacists under certain circumstances 

Safe Access to Opioids submission

Pharmacy Council submission on the Safe Access to Opioids

Read the joint submission on Safe Access to Opioids provided by Dental Council and Pharmacy Council.

Therapeutic Products Bill submission

Pharmacy Council submission on the Therapeutic Products Bill

The submission describes Council’s view on the interface between the Bill and the Council’s regulatory work and the need for the two-regulatory models to work effectively alongside each other.

Reclassification of nitrofurantoin 

Pharmacy Council submission on the reclassification of nitrofurantoin – Medicines Classification Committee
68th meeting on 26 April 2022

The Pharmacy Council believes that pharmacists possess the competencies to appropriately supply nitrofurantoin as per the proposal in the application. However, we recommend that pharmacists be required to complete a formal training programme that focuses on assessment and triage of suspected urinary tract infection, supply of nitrofurantoin according to current practice and gazetted requirements, and provision of appropriate self-care and disease prevention measures. 

Proposed Vaccinating Health Worker Role – Survey

The Ministry of Health invited input from the health and disability sector into a proposed change to the Medicines Regulations.  The change involves expanding the scope of the COVID-19 Vaccinator Workforce into a new Vaccinating Health Worker role.  

Submission on the draft Terms of Reference and Standards for RA Performance Reviews

The submission was made jointly by the Pharmacy, Dental, Nursing, and Medical Councils of New Zealand. (Responsible Authorities are organisations like this Council, that register health professionals and ensure they are competent to practice.)