NZ standalone CM regulation
September 9, 2011
NEW Zealand is set to separate
the regulation of complementary
medicines from other drugs, with
the formal introduction into the NZ
parliament this week of the new
Natural Health Products Bill.
The move is likely to gain support
from the parliament, because it’s
the outcome of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the
National and Green Parties which
covers several shared policies.
NZ Associate Health Minister,
Jonathan Coleman, said the Bill
creates a “cost-effective scheme to
oversee the industry with an
emphasis on protecting the
consumer,” covering more than
6000 natural health products
ranging from vitamin supplements
to herbal medicines.
The move is significant for
Australia too, with authorities in
both countries moving towards the
long-awaited Australia New Zealand
Therapeutic Products Agency which
aims to harmonise regulations.
Blackmores has hailed the New
Zealand move, saying it supports
the establishment of a separate
regulatory authority, staffed by
“appropriately qualified people” to
oversee the regulation of
complementary medicines.
“We fully appreciate there is a
demonstrable need for the natural
health products industry to be
appropriately regulated,” said
Blackmores NZ gm, Alison Quesnel.
“Consumers need to have access
to safe, quality products that are
responsibly marketed,” she said.
MEANWHILE in Australia the TGA
is believed to be considering
warning labels for complementary
medicines, to remind consumers
the products have not been tested
for efficacy.
It’s part of the TGA response to
last week’s damning Australian
National Audit Office review of CM
regulation (PD 01 Sep).
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