A proposal to set up a stand-alone New Zealand regulator for natural health products has been developed by the Green Party and the Government. A consultation paper on this proposal has been released by the Ministry of Health today.

"As more and more New Zealanders turn to natural health products to keep themselves well, consumers need to have confidence that the products they buy are safe and true to label," Green Party Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

"It's great that at long last we are developing a stand-alone New Zealand based regulatory system for natural health products. A cost-effective New Zealand system will be a vast improvement on the scheme the previous Government was so keen on forcing onto New Zealand. "I am looking forward to hearing the views of submitters on our proposed scheme."

Ms Kedgley said it was important that New Zealand retains control over regulating natural health products.

This current proposal has been developed under the Green and National Parties' Memorandum of Understanding where they have agreed to progress shared policy initiatives.

"I hope that the new regulatory system will help this important industry to grow and further expand into export markets," Ms Kedgley said. Around 450 companies currently supply some 6600 natural health products in the New Zealand market. About a third of these companies have a turnover of between $5 million and $20 million, whilst 14 per cent have a turnover of more than $20 million. The rest of the companies have a turnover ranging from $100,000 to $5 million. The consultation paper is available on the Ministry of Health website (www.moh.govt.nz), and submissions will close on 17 May 2010.

"We are confident this consultation process will help us to develop fair and effective legislation that can be introduced this year," said Ms Kedgley.