Bill Will Help Ensure Accurate Fish Oil Claims

MEDIA RELEASE

22 January 2015

Health Product Bill’s Passage into Law Will Help to Ensure Accurate Active Ingredient Claims for Fish Oil

Industry umbrella group Natural Products NZ (NPNZ) has expressed surprise about Auckland University research suggesting that many fish oil products do not contain their stated active ingredient levels, and is calling for the rapid passage of a Bill that would help to ensure that dietary supplements contain what they say they do.

NPNZ represents New Zealand’s natural products, functional foods, complementary medicines, cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals industries.

The Natural Health and Supplementary Products Bill, which awaits its third reading, will regulate the manufacturing and selling of natural health products in this country. It will strengthen regulation around which ingredients and health benefit claims will be permitted / not permitted, and what product information must be provided.

NPNZ Executive Director Alison Quesnel says: “The Bill is an important piece of legislation, which we believe will benefit consumers, the natural health and supplementary products industry and New Zealand as a whole.”

The new regulation is needed due to consumers’ growing demand for alternative options to maintain health and assist disease prevention.

“New Zealand therefore needs a modern regulatory environment that recognises consumers’ right to information about natural health products and their functions, and the right to access products that are safe and effective,” says Ms Quesnel.

The new regulations will do this by providing all parties with a higher level of assurance that the natural health and supplementary products available here are safe, approved, effective and contain what is stated on the label.

Increased transparency means that consumers will also be able to find out more about the products they are buying and to therefore become better informed about how best to use them.

Commenting on Auckland University’s fish oil research, Ms Quesnel says it came as a surprise because similar international research has tended to find that most fish oil products met their active ingredient claims.

“NPNZ believes that further investigation was needed in relation to the research.

“Despite the potential questions that the research raises it is important to remember there is still an overwhelming body of scientific evidence about fish oil’s nutritional for brain, heart and joint health,” she says.

Ms Quesnel notes the proposed new regulations will make it more difficult for products that do not meet their label claims to be marketed and sold here so it is hoped the Government will pass the Bill into law as soon as possible.

-ENDS-

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