Government should give up on proposal

30 June 2005

Government should give up on Natural Health Product proposal too

Since the Government undertook a policy u-turn on land access yesterday, there has been a call from the natural health product sector for Government to give up on plans to hand industry regulation over to Australia.

Public opposition to the proposed Trans Tasman Joint Regulator for natural health products is equally strong, according to a consumer watchdog group the New Zealand Health Trust.

Latest independent research showed that 61% of New Zealanders oppose Health Minister Annette King’s plans to hand control of the industry to the Australian-dominated agency.

“That’s more than 2 million people who don’t want the Joint Agency to go ahead,” said Amy Adams, spokesperson for the NZ Health Trust.

“There is massive political opposition, so Labour doesn’t have the numbers to pass the legislation. So we say ‘just give up now’ and stop wasting taxpayer’s money employing staff for the new agency and holding pointless meetings all around the country,” Mrs Adams said.

“What’s one more back down on an unpopular policy in the lead up to the election?”

ENDS

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