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Newsletter Archives
No 2 - April 2004
Greetings to all myHealth newsletter subscribers.
Draft media
release 31 March 2004
Officials agree Trans-Tasman Treaty will cost jobs and increase
pricesConsumers and the economy will pay a heavy price for
the Government's insistence on a Trans Tasman regulatory system
for natural Health Products, according to a report by Ministry
of Health officials released yesterday.
The National Interest
Analysis was tabled as Government put a Trans-Tasman treaty
signed late last year before Parliament for ratification.Opponents
of the proposed Trans Tasman scheme have been claiming it would
see products pulled from shelves, costs of products go up and
jobs disappear as many of the industry's small players close
down or relocate to Australia.
"After
months of the industry saying it will be a disaster, finally
officials have admitted that this proposal will see consumers
and the New Zealand economy suffer," said
Amy Adams, spokesperson for the NZ Health Trust.
"Health
Minister Annette King appears determined to proceed with
this destructive and counterproductive system, despite intense
opposition from industry, the public and the Health Select
Committee."The NZ Health Trust is also angry that the National Interest
Analysis claims that industry submissions were based on misinformation,
saying that the real misinformation in this case is coming
from MedSafe officials.
"For example it claimed complimentary
medicines need to be regulated in this way because the Pan
Pharmaceuticals situation proved that generally safe natural
products can be dangerous if manufactured incorrectly" Mrs Adams
said.
"The truth is that of more than 1200 products
recalled, NOT ONE of the natural health products was found
to be at fault. It was only one pharmaceutical drug which
was a problem."She said Government could expect more
determined opposition. "Industry
and consumers will not put up with natural health products
being sacrificed on the altar of Closer Economic Relations
by a desperate Government."
ENDSFor further information
please contact
Amy Adams Ph (021) 499-066
NZ Health Trust Spokesperson
Kind
regards
Dave
Sloan
NZHT |
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