Imported Vitamin C soon to be unavailable in New Zealand

Media Release
25 August 2016

Imported Vitamin C soon to be unavailable in New Zealand

The Natural Health Alliance today called on Government to reconsider the Natural Health Products Bill expressing concerns that the legislation will mean many popular household natural products will no longer be available to be purchased from kiwi retailers.

Alliance spokesperson, Bronwynne Howse said that natural products such as Lipospheric vitamin C and several combination products which include well known ingredients such as Garlic, Echinacea and Ginkgo will not meet new labelling requirements and the fees to register these products and ingredients will be too high for many of the small to medium sized natural health companies in New Zealand.

“The proposed amendments to the legislation will not only significantly reduce the number of natural health products available in pharmacies, practitioner clinics and health food stores, but threaten the financial viability of the New Zealand natural health products industry”, she said.

The government has stated that a $170 (ex GST) notification fee would be payable annually per natural health product and this is in addition to the fees payable for the application of new ingredients.

“The proposed fees are exorbitant when there is absolutely no benefit in return. Many companies have well over 100 products which means at least an additional $17,000 per year every year in compliance costs. This is a cost many natural health companies simply can’t afford, said Ms Howse.

“We are talking about natural health products like vitamin C, fish oil, and evening primrose oil – not high tech medicines, and any regulatory framework needs to reflect that”.

“In addition, the proposed requirements to disclose the actual amount of each ingredient used in a blended product, instead of just listing the ingredients means that the majority of natural products which are currently imported from other countries, such as the USA, will no longer meet NZ requirements, and will not be available for purchase locally”.

The Government is requiring companies to disclose the proportions of all ingredients in their products. That’s all commercial information that will be available to competitors. This stifles innovation and product availability in New Zealand.”

Ironically – consumers will be able to go online to purchase products from overseas that are banned in New Zealand It is not clear why the Government would advantage international on-line shopping by disadvantaging kiwi businesses.

“The Alliance is concerned that Parliament may consider this bill without knowing the rules and regulations that will affect business. The 71 pages of amendments go far beyond that intention.”

“We believe the Government needs to withdraw this bill. What we have now works for New Zealand consumers and it works for New Zealand business, there is no "burning platform" problem here that needs a new law,” said Ms Howse.

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