Media Release 9 February 2007

For Immediate Release

Proposed joint regulation of complementary medicines too rigid say Medical Herbalists

The New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH) today stated its opposition to the application of the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill (2006) in relation to herbal and other complementary medicines in a submission to the Select Committee.

The Government Administration Select Committee is currently reviewing the Bill, which will impose sweeping controls over complementary medicines in this country, through a joint authority and regulatory system with Australia.

NZAMH President, Chris Tuffnell, said, “The high compliance costs proposed by the bill are disproportionate to risk, and the resulting increases in costs will greatly disadvantage New Zealand consumers seeking complementary medicine as part of their health care”.

The NZAMH believes that the proposed system fails to recognise the nature and practice of herbal medicine in New Zealand, or differentiate between self-medication and Practitioner-only medication. “Prescription by qualified herbalists of herbal medicines enables optimum safety and benefit for consumers” said Mrs Tuffnell. “Appropriate prescription and use of herbal medicines, combined with increased focus on Good Manufacturing Practice would be more cost effective for all concerned”.

The NZAMH maintains that herbal medicine has an important, but not yet fully acknowledged, role to play in the prevention and treatment of many of the health problems of New Zealanders.

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