Another Blow for Trans Tasman Agency
The Government’s proposal to regulate all natural health products and drugs through a joint Trans Tasman Agency took
another body blow today, with the release of a second damming Select Committee report.
The Health Select Committee recommend Government NOT sign off on the international treaty establishing the agency unless
fundamental problems were addressed, and five parties in Parliament felt even more strongly about the issue and added
minority reports.
Health Minister Annette King agreed to establish the new Agency by signing a Treaty with Australia in December, just a
few days after the first Health Select Committee report slammed the proposal saying it would wipe out NZ businesses and
cost consumers both choice and money.
The New Zealand Health Trust welcomed the second damning report, saying the committee had recongnised the cost to New
Zealand was far too high.
“It’s unbelievable that Labour want to proceed with this joint regulation,” said NZ Heath Trust spokesperson Amy Adams.
“The Green Party, National, United Future, NZ First and ACT are all quite clear that it would be a mistake.”
“In addition, officials have told the Minister it will cost taxpayers up to $200 million, cost NZ jobs and force many
small businesses to close, cause many products to disappear off the shelves and cost consumers significantly more to buy
things like vitamins and minerals.”
Mrs Adams said it was not too late for Government to pull out of the deal with Australia, and to adopt the proposal that
industry had put forward.
“We are gearing up for a massive fight to stop Government passing the legislation to enable the new joint agency,” she
said. “Annette King should understand that the strength of opposition to this proposal is growing all the time.”