Australians bare teeth over therapeutics agency

Media statement Monday, September 24th, 2007

Australians bare teeth over therapeutics agency

The Australian reaction to the collapse of the joint ANZ Therapeutic Products Authority shows the overbearing arrogance it would have employed towards New Zealand interests if the agency had gone ahead, says Garth Wyllie, a spokesperson for the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

"The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is moving to impose much stricter requirements on the manufacture of therapeutic goods exported to Australia from New Zealand," Mr Wyllie said.

"What we see here is the politicization of health by Australia in the most petulant fashion.

"The type of payback being pursued by the Australian regulator demonstrates their intentions over the TGA were never in the interests of health product consumers in either country.

"We urge the government to take the strongest possible stand against this.

"The Australian regulator is threatening our manufacturers of complementary medicines with full on-site Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits conducted by their personnel at a cost of around $980 an hour plus airfares and disbursements.

"The Australians are saying only their personnel are qualified to undertake such inspections. What a lot of nonsense!

"They're playing underarm again. It's pettiness writ large.

"Its also disappointing New Zealand lobbyists representing Australian interests are so quick to condemn the local industry."

ENDS