click here to send a message  to a friend


Receive our NZHT NewsLetter
  Subscribe to our mailing lists using the form below  
 

required fields
Email
Preferred format for emails:
Text HTML
First Name
Last Name
City
Country


 
 
Click here for Newsletter Archives page
 
 

The latest newsletter is below
Print friendly Page

NZHT News

NZ Health Trust - Newsletter no: 25 - June 2006
Hello once again
 
Just time for a brief newsletter to let you know about 3 important things:
  • Action Alert; Consumer Right to Know Bill
  • Medsafe/ TGA / ANZTPA update
  • NZ Health Trust DVD now available for purchase on website

ACTION ALERT: Consumer Right to Know (Food Information) Bill

Sue Kedgley is asking consumers to make one last effort to phone or email their local MP's, to encourage them to support the Consumer Right To Know Bill, which will be voted on next Wednesday 28th June 2006.

Here is a link to the Action Alert for the Bill - from there it has links to the Bill, press release and Sue's speech and a sample letter, http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/other9741.html


 
MEDSAFE / TGA / ANZTPA UPDATE
Well things are starting to hot up in the Government's push to hand away control of our health choices to the Australian TGA.
In May the first batch of draft rules for the planned new agency were released and since then the Medsafe/TGA travelling road show has been holding "consultation meetings" in AK and CHCH so they can claim they have thoroughly consulted.
 
It’s a good time then to point out a few home truths;
  • They can release as many documents and hold as many meetings as they like but it doesn't change the fact that without getting legislation approved by a majority of MP's this joint agency will never happen.
  • Ever since the unanimous Select Committee report found that a Trans Tasman agency would be bad for New Zealand, Annette King has told industry that our concerns would be addressed in the rules - implying that once we saw them all would be well.  The rules are out and none of the major concerns have been addressed.
  • Despite Medsafe repeatedly claiming that the new agency would be a whole new creation and not just the TGA taking over, the rules, detail and application, and even the recent road show presentations make it quite clear that ANZTPA (as they've labelled the beast) would be nothing more than the TGA in drag.
Let's have a look then at what is now clear;
  1. A white list would apply going against the clear requirements of the Health Select Committee and meaning that innovation in natural health will come to a crashing halt.
  2. Unless all ingredients to be used are on the approved list and the only claims to be made are their limited pre approved ones, every product including natural     products would be treated as a class 2 (pharmaceutical) medicine
  3. No one knows what will be on the white list and we won't see this list for at least another year!  Parliament will be asked to approve this agency before we have any idea what they will allow us to have access to.
  4. Fees would be significant across five levels of regulation and full cost recovery to maintain this bureaucratic monster would apply
  5. Pre vetting of all advertisements would apply
  6. Audits would be discretionary, as often as they wish and at the cost of the business in all respects
  7. Products can be banned or businesses shut down at their whim.  Appeal rights would come too late, be beyond the financial resources of many businesses and  only be to their own, non independent self appointed board of supporters.
  8. Despite claiming to be based on a concern for consumer safety, the agency has no interest in regulating dental products including controversial products like Sodium fluoride and mercury.
  9. Managing director’s rules are all powerful, they would come from Australia and could be changed at the MD’s whim without reference to or approval of the NZ Parliament. 
  10. Under the ANZTPA the writing is on the wall for natural health. 
  11. It must be clear by now to the few lone voices that negotiating from within the tent is a forlorn futile hope.
It must now be clear to all that this agency would strike a major blow to health options and choices as well as undermining our very system of democracy. It simply cannot be allowed to proceed.
 
Latest reports are that legislation is expected to be tabled towards the end of July but still Labour does not appear to have the numbers needed.  Undoubtedly though they will still try and bully this through but with your help they will not succeed.

 
Just to hand - a very positive Article in the Herald
Transtasman drug agency push set to end in tears
Wednesday June 21, 2006
By Ruth Berry
 
The Government has renewed an offensive to create a transtasman drug agency, but is likely to have to explain an embarrassing defeat to the Australians. read more
 

NZ Health Trust DVD
 
The distribution of the DVD’s is going well and we are getting very positive reports about it, the DVD is a presentation by lawyer Amy Adams and  sets out the history and detail of the proposal and outlines our concerns with it, It provides an excellent resource and may be copied or broadcast in its entirety.
The video and audio files are also available to view or listen on line; click here http://nzhealthtrust.co.nz/forum/index.php?
 
ORDER YOUR DVD TODAY
Send payment of NZ$5 to
NZ Health Trust
PO Box 34057, Fendalton, Christchurch 8030
 
Please remember to include your return delivery address details.
The above offer is only available for New Zealand delivery addresses, Australian subscribers will need to post us a cheque or cash of AU$10 for Airmail delivery, all other requests please contact us by email using our contact form. http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz/contact.html

 
Kind Regards
Dave Sloan

 

 
 

 

 
| Home | About Us | News | Must Read | Documents | Forum | Urgent Support | Newsletter | Contact | Links | Contact your MP |