9 December 2003Gary Mabey
Joint Co-ordinator
At
Last Someone Is Listening, Says Health Group
The Health
Select Committee's report on a proposed trans-Tasman agency
to regulate herbs, vitamins and minerals is an impressively
researched and very balanced contribution, according to New
Zealand's leading advocacy group for consumer choice in
health care.
"In more than a decade of lobbying and making
submissions, this report is by far the best-researched and
most open-minded official document we have seen," said Gary
Mabey, Joint Co-Ordinator of Citizens for Health
Choices.
"Its key recommendation is a direct endorsement
of the position of our group and most of the New Zealand
industry: namely, that any system for regulating herbs,
vitamins and minerals should be separate from medicines and
food," Mr Mabey said.
Last week, Health Minister Annette
King criticised the Select Committee for taking too long to
release this report, saying that Australia was becoming
impatient.
"But two things are now clear," Mr Mabey said.
"First, the report took some time to produce because it has
been deeply researched and carefully thought out. It is the
best reference work on this topic.
"Second, if the public
servants who have been advising the Government had taken the
time to be equally diligent and open-minded, the Government
wouldn't be in such a mess on this topic."
It is
enormously significant that the Select Committee's report
was unanimous, Mr Mabey said.
"Ms King should change her
mind about signing the Treaty with Australia on Wednesday
[editors: 10 December] to set up the proposed trans-Tasman
agency to regulate herbs, vitamins and
supplements.
"Signing the Treaty flies in the face of the
unanimous view of the Select Committee, including Ms King's
own Labour members.
"This is the time for the Government
to reject Australian bullying and stand up for New Zealand's
democratic traditions."
Media statement
For immediate
release
ENDS
Who we are
Citizens for Health
Choices is one of New Zealand�s leading and most visible
advocates for consumer choice in health care.
Citizens for
Health Choices was founded in 1992 by a group of consumers,
health practitioners, and people from the dietary
supplements industry. Since then it has been working to
make sure New Zealanders have continued access to the
natural health products they know and trust.
Today
Citizens for Health Choices comprises more than 1000
consumer members, an Advisory Board of industry
representatives, and support from New Zealand companies and
individuals from across the dietary supplement sector �
consumers, manufacturers, distributors, importers and
practitioners.
Note: further background information
on next page.
Background quotes:
"We do not
believe any joint agency should cover these products at this
time as we consider this may be too high a regulatory burden
given the level of risk posed by these products."
Steve Chadwick, MP ( Labour)
Chair of Health Select
Committee
9 December 2003
"It is not reasonable to
expect the Governments of New Zealand or Australia to wait
any longer for a report from a select committee�a report
that the Government did not call for�on something that was
first decided in September 2002, 15 months ago. Governments
cannot hold up agreements on that basis. What countries
would deal with us if we did?"
Hon Annette King
In
Parliament, 4 December 2003
"So long as health
products do not cause physical harm it would seem better to
leave their efficacy to the judgment of consumers� The
greater likelihood is that many products will disappear from
the market not because they are "unsafe" in the ordinary
meaning of the word but because their manufacturer will not
invest in the additional expense of meeting the regulatory
red tape of a relatively small market."
New Zealand
Herald
Editorial, 9 December
2003
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