Joint Greens-Govt health legislation tabled in Parliament

Joint Green Party-Government legislation to set up a natural health regulator is being tabled in Parliament today [Wednesday, 7 September].

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said the stand-alone regulator would work to protect the growing number of New Zealanders using natural health products to improve their health.

"The Green Party strongly supports natural healthcare and I am delighted that more and more people are using these products.

"We want to ensure the sector continues to flourish and that all products on the market are high quality, safe and true-to-label."

Ms Kedgley said she was keen to see the legislation progress as fast as possible.

"The Bill will be referred to a select committee and submissions will be called for, so that it can be progressed early in the next term of Parliament."

The proposed natural health regulation would cover a wide range of products such as vitamins and Chinese medicines.

There are more than 6000 natural health products on sale in New Zealand and over 450 natural health companies. Those companies have an estimated annual turnover of $760 million.

The initiative to create a natural health regulator, within the Ministry of Health, was developed under the Green and National parties' Memorandum of Understanding.

The memorandum between the parties also includes successful projects in home insulation, protecting native bush from pests, creating a national cycleway and toxic site management.

The legislation to create the natural health regulator is expected to have its first reading in Parliament shortly and is likely to come into effect next year.