The government is now calling for submissions on the Natural Health Products Bill, due by 24th February. It is very important for the future of natural health products in NZ that as many people as possible make a submission.


It is very concerning that the tabled Natural Health Products Bill in its current form is a rushed Bill with lots of flaws and vague terms that are open to any number of interpretations by the regulatory authority.



Surprisingly it does not include most of the detailed proposals jointly developed by the NZ Health Trust, consumer groups and NZ natural health industry groups in 2009, which may be downloaded from this link http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/proposed_bill.htm.



So we need to direct the Government back to the Joint Industry Statement (proposed Natural & Traditional Health Products Bill) and request that the Bill incorporates all the original recommendations and details so we know exactly what we are agreeing to.



As modern New Zealand is a multicultural nation, it important that the Bill supports access to traditional medicines valued by different cultures, including Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ayurvedic medicines from India as well as guaranteeing access to traditional New Zealand Maori herbal medicines (Rongoa).

Last but not least, once NZ and Australia have developed the joint agency ANZTPA to regulate pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, it is imperative that natural health products in NZ are regulated under a separate category by the NZ Natural Health Products Regulator.



For more information on writing a submission go to http://healthfreedom.co.nz/latest-news.html