ACTION ALERT: Natural Health at Risk

Go to Sue's Press Release on this subject.

Go to Sue's Oral Question on this subject.

Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill being rammed through Parliament

I am sad to have to inform you that on the 5th December 2006, at 9 a.m., Annette King tabled the 'Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill' in Parliament. The 494-page bill will have its first reading on Tuesday 12th December, at about 3.30 p.m.

This bill will undermine our sovereignty and our democracy, and restrict our access to natural supplements by regulating them as pharmaceuticals through a heavy handed Australian-based Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency (ANZTPA).

Despite overwhelming opposition, the government is bulldozing ahead with its plans to set up a Trans Tasman regulator. New Zealand First, having promised publicly that it would never support a Trans Tasman agency that included dietary supplements, has reneged on its promise, and will now support the legislation, along with the government and United Future, through to Select Committee.

The proposed agency is designed to suit large multinational corporations, but will wipe our small New Zealand dietary supplements manufacturers. It will regulate dietary supplements as if they were drugs; impose an inappropriate, pharmaceutical model for low risk healthcare products, and result in increasing pharmaceutical control of natural health products.

If it goes ahead, small natural health businesses will go to the wall as a result of excessive compliance costs

There will be reduced consumer choice as many ingredients will not be available in the future

Some traditional remedies that have been safely used for centuries, such as Chinese herbs and Ayuvedic medicine, will become illegal in a few years time

At present dietary supplements are assumed to be safe and only certain ingredients on a 'negative list' are prohibited from use. But under the new bill, all natural health products that are not on a so-called 'positive list' and licensed for use (at great expense) will become illegal — even if they have been safely used for centuries.

The attempt to ram this bill through Parliament, against huge consumer and industry opposition, is a test of our democracy, and we urge all of you to join us in fighting this appalling legislation which will undermine our health freedom, our democracy and our sovereignty.

Please make your views known to Labour, United Future and New Zealand First MPs. Email your opposition in particular to Helen Clark, Annette King, Pete Hodgson and your local MP.

Make an appointment to see your local MP.

Sue Kedgley
Green MP