Natural Health Alliance

Withdrawal of the Natural Health Products Bill

Press Release

Natural Health Alliance Welcomes Withdrawal of NHP Bill

The Natural Health Alliance is pleased that the new government has removed the Natural Health Products Bill from the Parliamentary Order Paper.

“The defunct Bill would have had a chilling effect on the Natural Health Products industry in New Zealand,” according to Patrick Fahy, Chairman of the Natural Health Alliance. “It would have imposed a huge regulatory cost on New Zealand manufacturers and meant that many overseas suppliers would have refused to deal with New Zealand companies.”

Mr Fahy also states, “This bill was an existential threat to a good number of businesses in our industry. We would not have been able to afford the compliance costs this bill would have imposed on us, gifting our overseas competitors a huge competitive advantage. Products available online through Amazon & iHerb would have become far cheaper than exactly the same New Zealand products sold under the failed Bill.”

CEO of BePure, Andrew Laloli says, “We are extremely grateful for the support of both New Zealand First and Labour. They have saved New Zealand jobs by killing this short-sighted bill. The bill is now well out of date and has been overtaken by the internet. We need legislation that supports New Zealand companies to compete on the same terms as global internet sites. Without the threat of this Bill hanging over our heads the industry can plan to innovate and expand in the future.”

Mr Fahy is surprised that a few large manufacturing companies in the industry wanted to impose huge costs on smaller New Zealand companies, largely so they could comply with Australian regulations. “There is nothing stopping a New Zealand firm opting into Australian standards, without imposing unnecessary and unfair costs on New Zealand consumers,” says Mr Fahy.

“We are thrilled that New Zealand First and Labour listened to the concerns of the industry and dropped the Bill. The failed Bill was essentially an expensive barrier to entry to newcomers in our industry and would have increased costs for New Zealand consumers buying from New Zealand companies.”

The Natural Health Alliance represents a large number of innovative Natural Health Product businesses in New Zealand, serving a knowledgeable customer base that make informed choices about their own health and wellbeing.

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