Even vitamins to be regulated

[MotherBear]

Vitamin bill protestors to march again
NZPA | Friday, 18 May 2007

More protests against the controversial Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill are being held tomorrow around the country.

The bill proposes to set up a new trans-Tasman regulatory regime for medicines, medical devices and complementary health products, harmonising New Zealand with the stricter Australian regime.

This would mean complementary medicines such as vitamins and herbs would have to pass through tough testing and quality control in order to be available for sale.

Opponents have criticised the bill for unnecessarily applying the same level of control for natural health products as it did for pharmaceuticals.

They say the cost of complying with the new regime would force small producers out of the market.

Protests were to be held tomorrow in Auckland, Christchurch, Whangarei and Tauranga, Dunedin and New Plymouth.

Thousands took to the streets in similar protests in April.

The bill passed its first reading in March by one vote.

From here .

[MotherBear]

Sounds like this place and, believe me, it's no fun.

Medicines debate about safety versus freedom of choice
5:00AM Tuesday May 22, 2007
By Martin Johnston


If the new monitoring agency is set up, buying your favourite jar of cream might no longer be possible. Photo / Getty Images

From herbal medicines to Herceptin, from condoms to heart valves, a controversial regulatory proposal to hook up with Australia would cast a large net over New Zealand health products, supplements and medicines.

Government agencies on both sides of the Tasman have been working for more than a decade on creating a transtasman agency to regulate medicines, medical devices and complementary medicines.

Since details emerged in 2002, the scheme has been attacked, politically and now in a series of protest marches - yet State Services Minister Annette King is pushing ahead, even if Labour is short of support in the House.

Supporters say the proposal will improve public safety; detractors say it will force hundreds of products off shelves, leaving New Zealanders with less choice, destroying jobs and closing businesses. Claim and counter-claim are flying, ahead of a likely parliamentary show-down within weeks.

More here .