1 August 2007

Time to end war of words, say Greens

Green MP Sue Kedgley is calling for genuine cross party talks on how best to regulate dietary supplements in New Zealand, in the wake of the war of words issuing from National and Labour today.

"Instead of Key and King talking past each other through the media, we need to have a genuine cross party discussion about the issue, and see whether there is wide political support for a cost effective, New Zealand based regulatory system to be progressed, instead of continuing to argue over the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill," Ms Kedgley says.

"There is wide public and industry support for a New Zealand-based regulatory regime, and if there was cross party agreement on this, it could be quickly progressed.

"There would need to be wide consultation and discussion with industry and consumers on the detail of the New Zealand-based regulatory regime.

"King and Key need to understand that there is absolutely no need for the so-called 'two tier compromise' that has been bandied around in the media.

"Dietary supplements businesses which wish to trade in Australia already have to go through the onerous and expensive Australian regulatory system before they can register any products for sale there. We don't need legislation to stipulate this.

"Instead of trying to resurrect the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, we need to move quickly to develop a New Zealand-based regulatory system which can assure consumers that all dietary supplements sold in New Zealand are safe and true to label, without crippling New Zealand businesses with compliance costs or undermining our sovereignty," Ms Kedgley says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media