Coleman Jonathan: Natural Health Products Bill — First Reading 
Coleman Jonathan: Natural Health Products Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:675;Page:21385] 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 I move  
That the Natural Health Products Bill be now read a first time. 
 At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be referred to the Health Committee. In April 2009 National and the Green Party announced that we would work together to develop a New Zealand - based regulatory scheme for natural health products that are sold in New Zealand. We said then that our key objectives were to have a New Zealand - based scheme that is cost-effective and gives New Zealanders confidence that the natural health products they use are safe. We wanted a scheme that gives the public an assurance that the natural health products they use are true to label and can provide the health benefits claimed for them. We also wanted a scheme that would recognise that natural health products are generally low risk and that would be as simple streamlined and low cost as possible for industry and the Government. This bill achieves our objectives. 
We have worked effectively with a very wide range of stakeholders and their feedback has been incorporated in the final form of this bill. The bill will introduce for the first time in New Zealand risk-based regulation of natural health products. The bill will also for the first time allow industry to make legitimate claims about the health benefits of natural health products to those who use them. It will provide for a scheme that gives the public an assurance that the natural health products they use give them the health benefits claimed by the manufacturer or importer when used as directed and are safe and contain what the labels say they contain. 
The scheme enables product manufacturers and importers to gain market authorisation by self-certification against the scheme’s requirements. Product sponsors will use an online database to notify the regulator of products. The database will automatically accept the notification provided the product meets the scheme’s criteria which will be built into the online system. 
To provide certainty for the industry a list of prohibited ingredients and an open-ended list of ingredients that can be used in natural health products will be introduced. The bill will also provide a simple process for adding new ingredients to the list of those that can be used. 
Sponsors will be required to show evidence to support claims of the health benefits of their products. The regulator may audit this evidence and may randomly audit the information provided as part of a product notification and in response to complaints. The bill will provide for regulation-making powers to set labelling requirements manufacturing standards and standards of evidence required to make a claim of health benefit. It also enables the natural health products regulator to recognise the decisions of recognised authorities whether in New Zealand or overseas. 
This bill exempts export-only products from the requirements of the scheme. However if an exporter requires an export certificate from the regulator then it must meet the requirements of the scheme including product notification in order to obtain an official Government assurance. The New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers have signed a statement of intent detailing their agreement to move to a joint New Zealand - Australia regulatory regime for therapeutic products including a joint agency the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency. The New Zealand regulatory scheme for natural health products will sit alongside the agency. The Natural Health Products Bill will provide for a stand-alone scheme separate from legislation regulating other therapeutic products. The natural health products regulator will be in the Ministry of Health but separate from Medsafe New Zealand’s regulator for therapeutic products. 
This bill will provide for a robust scheme that gives the public assurance about the safety and efficacy of natural health products. The scheme will be straightforward and low cost for the industry which will for the first time be able to make legitimate claims about the health benefits of its products. I commend this bill to the House.