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Stop the "Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill"


The Bill is a big threat not just to the health choices of New Zealanders, but also to local businesses and employment.

There is no apparent justification for this bill and no evidence of an appropriate analysis of risk to consumer choice and costs to small business.

It would be a very sad day for New Zealand if this were introduced.



What you can do


It is not too late to voice your opinion: send letters or emails to your own MP, to Minister Annette King, to the NZ First and United Future MPs, who indicated they would probably oppose it but may now vote for it, and to MPs on the Government Administration Select Committee.

Let NZ First MPs know what you think their stance should be by phoning:
  • Rt Hon Winston Peters -  09 309 3134
  • Hon Brian Donnelly - 09 438 3895
  • Pita Paraone - 09 309 3134
  • Barbara Stewart - 07 839 0480
  • Peter Brown - 07 571 1481
  • Ron Mark - 03 365 9283

Soil & health appeal to stop the Bill - You can take action NOW

You can attend the public protests being organised by 'Health Freedom"




Submission to the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill

From The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc.


Date: 7 February 2007

Soil & Health wishes to be heard in person at the Select Committee.

The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc is 65 years old, and is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand, and as such advocates for a healthy natural diet derived from food produced organically and free from additives.

Soil & Health is particularly concerned with the loss of sovereignty of New Zealand should this Bill be passed. New Zealand has already compromised on several issues important to Soil & Health members.

Examples are Country of Origin Labelling, labelling of GMO foods, and NZFSA are suggesting that they will take an approach similar to Australia and the US in regards foods from cloned animals.

In Australia, who it is intended NZ be aligned with as a result of this Bill, unrealistic and onerous provisions have been placed on natural health product manufacturers and practitioners, reducing consumer choice and increasing costs.

The structure of intended decision making is far too narrow and removed from those directly affected.

The proposed structure can too easily be influenced by the large pharmaceutical companies that have the most to gain, and already have strong international influence on harmonization, labelling and safety regulations to their advantage.

There is no apparent justification for this bill and no evidence of an appropriate analysis of risk to consumer choice and costs to small business.

The motto of Soil & Health is; Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People. Members who choose mineral or plant based supplements or remedies, and their suppliers, need to be free from the excessive penalties recommended in the bill if they pursue healthy therapies that happen to be blacklisted by a pro pharmaceutical disconnected decision making body.

Steffan Browning
Spokesperson
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc



Soil & Health Spokesperson speaks to submission


On Wednesday April 4th, Steffan Browning, made an oral submission to the Select Committee on the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill.

He was joined by telephone link to the select committee, covering the main issues of our earlier submission, and using the experiences and concerns of herbal products suppliers, Sandra Clair of Artemis, Margaret Macbeth of True Blue Tea-tree oil, and Noelene from Regenerate lavender products.



Articles in Organic NZ magazine


May/June 2007

Philippa Jamieson, member of the Soil & Health National Council, checks out a herbal medicine business that is under threat from the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill.

Let's keep those tried and true remedies - Artemis Herbal Medicine case study


January/February 2007

Late one night in December the Government finally tabled legislation intended to make a reality of its proposal to base control of New Zealand complementary health in Australia, under a trans-Tasman Therapeutic Products Agency (ANZTPA).

Moves to send complementary health control offshore



January/February 2006

Allison Roe believes that a new combined Australia and New Zealand authority will severely limit consumer access to vitamin and mineral supplements in this country and destroy sectors of the New Zealand natural health industry.

Government moves against natural remedies are Allison's new worries

 






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Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941)                 Healthy Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People
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