New Zealand's 1985 supplement rules to be extended, with uncertainty still surrounding new bill

20-Feb-2018 - Last updated on 20-Feb-2018 at 07:48 GMT

The vast majority of the New Zealand industry backs the new bill.

The rules governing New Zealand's supplement industry look set to be extended to 2021, as the new government has yet to signal its intentions about a new bill, which many in the industry believe will boost its fortunes.

The Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985, which had been due to expire in March 2019, will be now be extended until March 2021, assuming the country’s Food Safety Law Reform Bill is passed.

Trade body Natural Health Products New Zealand (NHPNZ) belies this will happen in the next few weeks because it is number three on the Parliament order paper.

However, there is still uncertainty around the fate of the proposed Natural Health Products Bill, which NHPNZ believes will believes it will provide a higher level of assurance that products are safe, approved and effective, while also strengthening exports by ligning with international standards..

“In the meantime, we can reassure you we are still in the process of ascertaining the lie of the land in relation to the Natural Health Products Bill and our response to its removal from the Parliamentary Order Paper,” NHPNZ told members.

“We will keep you posted when there is more clarity around the situation.”

This time last year there were hopes that the new bill would be passed before last September’s general election.

It was first introduced in September 2011 and was awaiting the Committee of the Whole House stage.

But when that didn’t happen before the nation went to the polls, the bill was removed.

Annual summit

The website of the New Zealand parliament states that the bill was withdrawn on November 8.

NHPNZ’s Alison Quesnal said at the time it didn't necessarily mean the bill was dead in the water.

She told members in an email: "New governments go through the list of bills before parliament and consider them."

"They may decide to withdraw something if it is not a priority for them. However, until we meet with the new government's Health Minister and Health Select Committee, we cannot know their intentions, so until that happens, all we know is that the bill is in abeyance."

The topic is likely to be high on the agenda when the industry meets in Nelson for NHPNZ summit in March.

Speakers confirmed include start-up social entrepreneur Daniel Flynn from Thankyou), integrative medicine expert Dr Lesley Braun from Blackmores Institute) and Sheena Hunt from Promisia.

NutraIngredients-Asia is the official international media partner for the event and will be producing news, videos and analysis live from Nelson.