Media statement
For immediate release
Friday, 15 June 2007

United Future on Australia-New Zealand therapeutic goods agency legislation

On the eve of the report back of the Australia-New Zealand Therapeutic Goods Agency legislation, United Future leader Peter Dunne has set out his party's position on the proposed legislation.

"In August last year we advised the government that we would be prepared to support the legislation provided it related to pharmaceutical products only.

"As far as natural health products and complementary medicines were concerned, we took the view that these should be excluded from the legislation, but that they should be subject to local regulation, and with the right to opt in to the joint arrangement if manufacturers so wished.

"We further proposed that there should be no change to current rules permitting direct to consumer advertising of medicinal products.

"The government accepted these proposals," Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne says that United Future subsequently agreed to support the introduction of legislation covering both pharmaceuticals and natural health products, and complementary medicines, simply to allow all the issue to be considered by a select committee.

"We gave no commitment to support that legislation beyond its introduction.

"We have listened to the public debate over recent months, and have spoken to many industry and professional groups.

"As a result, we have concluded that the position we reached last August was the correct one, and have therefore resolved that we will not support the legislation any further, unless natural health products, and complementary medicines are excluded from the legislation, and made subject to local regulation, with the right to opt in to the joint arrangement if manufacturers so wished, and with no change to existing rules on direct to consumer advertising," Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

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