31 May 2004

Energy tonics industry launch association and code of practice

New Zealand’s energy dance supplement industry today launched an industry-wide association to ensure the responsible production, marketing and sale of their products.

The Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (STANZ) represents the manufacturers, distributors, marketers and retailers of ‘social tonic’ dance supplements. Today the Association also released a draft industry code of practice and called for public comment on it.

“STANZ has been formed to address some of the concerns both from within and outside the industry at poor product labelling and marketing, and the sale of these products to people under 18,” said STANZ spokesperson Matt Bowden.

“We are working co-operatively with the Ministry of Health and the EACD over how these products should be regulated, but we are taking the lead in setting the highest standards in terms of product safety, clarity of labelling and prohibiting the sale to minors.

“We have written to all retailers requesting that no products be sold to people under 18.”

Matt Bowden said the industry welcomed the EACD’s decision in April not to schedule these products and was working co-operatively alongside the Ministry and the EACD to develop regulations that would prohibit the sale to under 18 year olds.

“With up to five million of these products being sold in New Zealand over the last five years these products are not only safe, but they are playing an incredibly important role in providing safer, legal alternatives to illegal drugs such as P.

“Our products are a valuable harm minimisation tool and we are committed to working alongside health professionals and the public to ensure an appropriate regulatory regime is adopted around them,” said Mr Bowden.

“We are actively supporting the development of a regulatory regime but, until this happens, this code will bind our members and ensure the health and safety of consumers is protected through strict adherence to best industry practice.”

Mr Bowden said the Association was particularly keen to hear from as many New Zealanders as possible on the content of the draft code. The code is available at the STANZ website at www.stanz.org.nz
and feedback can be provided through the site.

Submissions on the code of practice close on June 30.

“This Association and our code have been formed because our industry is playing an important role amongst a significant sector of the community. We take this responsibility seriously.”

ENDS