Claims that the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill will put a stop to the sale of dodgy herbal pills are being shrugged off by the Green Party.
If it goes ahead, the new bill will put all supplementary medicines under the control of an Australian regulator.
Green Party Health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley agrees tougher rules surrounding the sale and natural supplements does need to be brought in. However, she says a New Zealand-based regulatory board is in everybody's best interests, not one ruling with a heavy hand from offshore.
She says the debacle surrounding the Australian-based Pan Pharmaceuticals proves that.
Pan Pharmaceuticals had their licence suspended back in 2003 because of serious concerns about the quality and safety of products.
Dodgy claims
The Commerce Commission has laid charges against a Bay of Plenty man and his company for claims he made about a pill to boost the size of women's breasts.
Brochures and websites claim the pills can boost breasts by up to four cup sizes.
Many believe that if the Therapeutics Medicines Bill been in place, the Bay of Plenty based firm would have never got off the ground.
