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Source: ONE News -
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The Natural Health Council is hoping a regulation deal struck between the government and the Green Party will mean tighter controls on over-the-counter supplements.
The aim is to create a stand-alone system, which would ensure natural health products are safe and properly labelled and the council says it's about time the Ministry of Health brought the products into the fold.
Chairman Gerald Lopez says people often self-prescribe with natural supplements after reading about them online or in magazines.
He says while most supplements are safe, people will get a better result from a more controlled prescription from a qualified health practitioner. Lopez says regulation is a good move because more people are using natural products.
He says a lot of people are not getting what they need from the mainstream system and are looking elsewhere.
Lopez hopes the deal will mean better control over high dosage products available without a prescription.
The move effectively kills attempts to have a joint trans-Tasman regulatory regime which was attempted under the last Labour government.
Green MP Sue Kedgley says it's important New Zealand retains control over regulation of natural health products.
