Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5242] 
1. STEVE CHADWICK (NZ Labour—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Minister for Food Safety 
: What actions have been taken by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and in the Ministry of Health in relation to the Pan Pharmaceutical products available in New Zealand? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister for Food Safety) 
: 
 Since the announcement by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and the Ministry of Health have been working with their Australian counterparts and distributors here in New Zealand to identify and arrange for the voluntary withdrawal from the market by New Zealand companies of products identified as being of concern that have been manufactured by Pan Pharmaceuticals. I can assure the House that for the purpose of protecting the public I will issue a recall notice when specific products are identified if they have not already been withdrawn and the recall meets the requirements of section 40 of the Food Act. 
Steve Chadwick 
: Does the recall of the Pan Pharmaceutical products in Australia indicate a need for improved regulatory framework in New Zealand? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Yes. New Zealand law is outdated and deficient. I have been working to secure new legislation that will ensure that New Zealanders can have confidence in the dietary supplements they purchase. We need a register of all products on sale we need the ability to audit the quality of the products and the ability to initiate recalls and warnings quickly. However my efforts to get regulatory powers similar to those in Australia have been made harder by political opposition. 
Dr Lynda Scott 
: Does not the failure of Pan Pharmaceuticals show how foolish it would be to simply hand New Zealand’s regulatory process over to an Australian model that obviously does not work; and does not this whole saga demonstrate that while we need regulation it must be well-thought-through and actively be effective? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: That is the most bizarre question. It obviously did work in Australia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration did work in Australia. It found the product. The recall is from May 2002 because it audits every year. We do not do that in New Zealand. Dr Scott has said that she does not want that sort of regulatory regime in New Zealand because everything here is all right. That is wrong. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Can the Minister confirm that the dietary supplements industry had reached agreement with the Ministry of Health back in 1998 for dietary supplement products to be notified electronically on a register and supplies to become licensed and that had that agreement been implemented with the industry instead of being put on hold while the Minister pursued plans to hand over control of our industry to the bloated Australian-dominated Australian authority which has been found to have systematic failures we would be in a better position today to protect consumers and swiftly recall products? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: That is not correct because I would assume that if agreement had been reached in 1998 for that to happen the previous Government—long before I became Minister and looked at this issue—would have agreed to that agreement. In fact there has not been agreement over the regulation of dietary supplements. I have certainly taken responsibility for it. However in political terms I have faced people like Lynda Scott who have a select committee inquiry not wanting to regulate but to be on the side of business. 
Judy Turner 
: Is the Minister concerned that what can most accurately be described as a quality control failure by one overseas manufacturer of pharmaceuticals and complementary medicines will deter the public from purchasing similar treatments from reputable local producers and is she doing anything to ensure that consumers are aware of that distinction for the sake of those businesses? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: The member makes a very good point and it is the reason that the products that Pan Pharmaceutical produced will be published for everybody to see so that responsible companies are not labelled in the same way.