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;
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Fees would
be significant
across five
levels of regulation
and full cost
recovery to
maintain this
bureaucratic
monster would
apply
- Pre vetting
of all advertisements
would apply
- Audits would
be discretionary,
as often as
they wish and
at the cost
of the business
in all respects
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Under the
ANZTPA the
writing is
on the wall
for natural
health.
- 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
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.
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
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