Back to Normal?
I think?? The issue that has taken so much of my time over the last few weeks looks like settling down. I am talking about the new legislation which would have seen Australian officials effectively taking over control of the natural products industry in New Zealand.
Fortunately the self preservation instincts of a number of politicians ‘kicked’ in as they were forced to listen to the overwhelming public and industry opposition to the bill. Some politicians who were ‘sitting on the fence’ will now oppose it. If passed it would have had grave implications for New Zealand health freedom in general.
The government now admits that it does not have sufficient support to pass the bill in its current form.
Many people who have been opposing this bill realize that the final outcome of this bill has implications that go way beyond just Australia and New Zealand. It is well known that the Australian TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has its sights set on expanding its influence into other areas of the Pacific and Asia. The joint agency with New Zealand would have provided the ‘springboard’ to kick this off.
It would also have forced some of the Australian states who refuse to recognize the incredibly draconian pharmaceutical dominated Australian TGA to come under their control.
Even worse it would have a ripple effect throughout the world given that it could be seen as another victory for the pharmaceutical lobby and another victory in the ‘battle’ to destroy or discredit natural products.
There are intense behind the scenes negotiations going on at present with the NZ government trying to ‘water’ down the bill to get the votes they need and others such as ourselves pushing for a complete removal of natural products and the establishment of a new government agency specifically to regulate natural products.
If our group succeeds then there is the opportunity for New Zealand to be a world leader with sensible, enforceable regulation designed to ensure safety and quality of natural products and in particular dietary supplements. No one disagrees about the need for more robust regulation to eliminate the ‘cowboys’ in the industry, but it must be sensible, viable and enforceable.
This problem is not limited to New Zealand. In the USA there has been ‘discussions’ going on for years to try and clean up the industry. A code for GMP (good manufacturing processes) was to have been published by the US FDA years ago. It is still imminent! Responsible US manufacturers have been pushing for this code for years. Hopefully it will soon be published and that it is one that will assist and not hinder the ongoing development of the responsible component of the industry.
We have been fortunate in New Zealand to have a very professional group known as NZ Health Trust funded by a property developer who is passionate about health and freedom of choice. They have been fighting this proposed legislation for years and can take a great deal of credit for the successes that the opponents of this bill are having.
If you would like to know more you can visit their website at http://www.nzhealthtrust.co.nz
Reader Comments (4)
Major cause to fight for. If I wouldn't have become an informed natural health products consumer, there's no way I could have known the critical importance of this initiative.
I got registered with New Health, because I feel I want to do something, even if I'm from outside NZ.
June 21, 2007 | Marius Chitosca
Well, so far so good Warren, but it will be a long battle and one fought on two fronts. The first - a bureaucracy intent on enlarging its power; the second ... well, it is a multi-billion dollar business this nutritional one, and the pharmaceutical companies are losing ground with few really new products. Old and cynical as only an early Boomer can be I suspect that the day after the TGA/FDA et al gain control, there will be these "marvellous discoveries" of all the papers people such as you cite (already) - but promoted by subsidiaries of Aventis etc.
Of course these companies will be honourable companies (they are all honourable men), and will only produce the purest of the pure - like Cox2 inhibitors, Thalidomide .....
June 21, 2007 | Muzz
Good luck with your efforts Warren, and thanks for the work you and your colleagues have invested in lobbying the NZ authorities.
I distinctly recall the brave and principled stance adopted by New Zealand in refusing to allow even their friends and allies to "possibly" bring nuclear powered or armed warships into their waters. It demonstrated that, in a sense (if you'll pardon my analogy), the tail can indeed wag the dog.
So once again this may be an opportunity for NZ to get it right on this issue and in so doing have that ripple effect you referred to, in a positive direction. I certainly wish you well in this because principled leadership amongst politicians, career bureaucrats and senior parmaceutical business executives is in very short supply.
As the worldwide trend of better-informed consumers sees more people discovering the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyle factors while waking up to the lies and downright marketing scams of the manufactured foods and pharmaceuticals industries, and their 'regulators', the stronger and more devious will be the efforts of those industries to maintain their power. This is certainly a time for resolve. It is a war with many battles on many fronts. Losing is unthinkable.
Stay well...
June 24, 2007 | Dr Peter Tylee
Thank you Muzz and Peter for your comments. Since I posted the last article I have been involved in some further meetings the most interesting one with Peter Brown the deputy leader of the New Zealand First Party.
He now has a better understanding of the issues and has undertaken not to support the bill. This is good because without the support of NZ First the government cannot pass the bill.
We are keeping the pressure on. :)
June 30, 2007 | Warren Matthews
Reader Comments (0)