Herbal Ban Will Drive NZ Business Offshore

May 4, 2009
For immediate release

MEDIA RELEASE

Herbal Ban Will Drive NZ Business Offshore

A Government move to target ``spiked’’ sex pills from Asia could send local herbal companies producing `safe’ unadulterated natural supplements out of business – or off shore.

The ``spiked’’ pills – one brand of which was sold through dairies like a party pill – contain potentially dangerous active ingredients from erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra which are not declared on the label.

But in a move to ban the ``spiked’’ pills, Medsafe has included any natural ingredient which contains substances which act in a similar way – with the effect of making many herbs and foods into prescription medicines.

Herbal Ignite, the popular men’s sex tonic marketed by former sports broadcaster Tim Bickerstaff, is one of the products affected because it contains horny goat weed, a herb containing a similar natural ingredient – the so-called PDE-5 inhibitors.

PDE-5 inhibitors are found in small amounts in many foods including chocolate, coffee and pomegranate juice, which would all be affected because the recommendation to be considered later this month makes no mention of level of activity or risk. Rather it includes ``any other compounds that exhibit similar activity’’.

Herbal Ignite managing director Tim Bickerstaff said his company was fully behind moves to outlaw ``spiked’’ sex pills because they gave all herbal enhancement products a bad name.

``These `spiked’ pills claim to be totally natural and yet they contain undeclared amounts of drugs,’’ he says. ``One of those listed on the Medsafe website as adulterated was marketed quite aggressively through dairies and convenience stores. The herbs we use are accepted as safe dietary supplements everywhere in the world – including the US and Australia – and yet the New Zealand authorities appear to be saying they want to ban them.’’

Tim Bickerstaff says he believes Medsafe already has the power to deal with the problem without introducing more red tape.

``If they find ``spiked’’ herbal products in their testing they can prosecute them under several different laws, including the Medicines Act, Medicines Regulations and Dietary Supplements Regulations. In the US the FDA has dealt with them without banning safe herbs.’’

If the move went ahead his company would be forced to change Herbal Ignite’s formula or move to Australia, said Mr Bickerstaff. ``That would affect local herbal suppliers and manufacturers just at a time when business is battling to maintain momentum. You can only wonder if it’s a move by the pharmaceutical companies to knock out competitors by the back door.

``We find many men and women prefer the herbal alternative because it’s more relaxed and natural. You don’t feel the pressure to perform over the space of a few hours because you’ve bought a pill and you’ve got to get your money’s worth.’’

ENDS

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