Health practitioners dispensing natural therapeutic products could eventually face a number of restrictions under a new Bill before Parliament.
But there has been backlash from several advocacy groups including Voices For Freedom, (VFF) that has made public its concerns over the Bill, saying that the addition of natural health products was a broken promise by the Government.
Submissions on the Therapeutic Products Bill close on March 5, and the Ministry of Health has already consulted with stakeholders back in 2018-19, receiving 442 submissions on the draft document.
Documents released under the Official Information Act to Voices For Freedom reveal that a Government paper recommended natural health products remain out of the legislation, but under the current proposal that won’t be happening.
Chair of the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee wrote to the Minister of Health in 2018 about the issue. Natural health products (NHPs) – under the previous administration would have been regulated by the Natural Health Products Bill.
That Bill was not reinstated by the Government and so has now been regulated under the Therapeutic Products Bill.
Intended to replace the Medicines Act 198, it will regulate how specified products are manufactured, tested, imported, promoted, supplied and exported.
Submissions were received from a variety of stakeholders including consumers, industry professionals, health practitioners and their organisations, and health sector organisations.
Many expressed general support for the purpose and principles of the Bill, recognising that successive governments have been working to enact reform in this area for many years.
Some expressed concern about allowing health practitioner prescribers to dispense and supply medicines, and believe that the same requirements that apply to pharmacies should also apply to them (i.e a licence).
Natural health products include vitamin and mineral supplements, and are currently regulated by the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 under the Food Act 2014.
VFF strongly believes in the ability of Kiwis to have autonomy over their diet, health, and medical decisions. This includes unrestricted access to natural foods, herbs, and medicines that have been safely used for thousands of years.
People turn to natural health practitioners and products to supplement the advice from their doctors, but this new law will remove choices for people seeking alternatives to mainstream options.
When the Bill reaches Select Committee stage, there will be an opportunity for people to have their say. There will also be further opportunities during the consultation on the regulations.
It is likely to be several years before the legislation and associated regulations are finalised and fully come into force. The proposed legislation has a backstop commencement date of 2026