CAVEAT PRACTITIONER — PRACTITIONER BEWARE!!!

In last month’s Ezine newsletter we discussed the notice sent out in (December 2007) by Medsafe in conjunction with New Zealand Food Standards Authority to all organisations involved in the manufacture, distribution and advertising of dietary supplements to inform of planned changes to the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 that are expected to come into effect in early 2008.

The notice also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the supply and promotion of products is compliant with current legislation and advised the sector of a combined planned compliance review and enforcement programme to this end.

Since this notice was sent out, we understand several practitioners have received letters from Medsafe stating that their websites contain deceptive or misleading claims and were promoting or advertising their clinic or product for a “therapeutic purpose” — clearly a breach of the law.

We remind our registered practitioner members that the law allows for truthful statements with regard to the promotion of health and wellness within specific scopes of practice, standards and ethics embraced by individual modalities and ratified by the Charter framework. Any statements made outside of this framework are therefore in breach of a designated ‘specific scope of practice’ and not covered by your membership or the Charter’s insurance programme. The 1981 Medicines Act prohibits Natural healthcare practitioners from making or publishing statements in the public domain, even if these statements are recognised as being true and correct relating to known disease processes.

We all recognise and acknowledge the weaknesses in the current draconian legislation and we are aware of the need for change. Unavoidably the process of change is slow and difficult, and we should all have no illusions about that. However the first step in any process of deliberate and organised change is obviously to identify and increase awareness of specific requirements as well as problems within the current legislation and stimulate interest in possible alternatives.

The compliance review currently being conducted by Medsafe has auditors assessing natural health products and websites for possible breaches of the 1981 Medicines Act and the Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985. It is imperative that we are cognisant of the fact that these are existing regulations, irrespective of whether Medsafe enforced them to the full extent of the law previously. Having said this however, we have to agree also with the concerns and statements made by several of our industry members who claim that we shouldn't have to defend ourselves against the oppression of a government agency that appears to have a parliamentary approved mandate to destroy the natural healthcare industry. Even one wrongly placed word can be construed as a medical claim. If there is any crime being committed it is the criminal actions of personnel within the Ministry of Health who continue to ignore the blatant criminal activities of the pharmaceutical industry whose government sanctioned activities are the number one cause of death in New Zealand.

To the best of our knowledge there are no representatives in the natural healthcare industry denying the need for appropriate regulation of dietary nutritional supplements in this country. However, it is mandatory that this legislation be designed for and implemented by suitably qualified New Zealanders who have extensive experience within and an in-depth understanding of the industry. It must not be left to the current medical mindset of the administrators within the Ministry of Health who lack the necessary expertise and training.

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The Health Freedom website is now up and running and you can visit it at www.healthfreedom.co.nz

We would like you to help us get the word out so we can build our yahoo message and action group!

If you want to maintain your freedom to choose which health options and natural products you use, then you need to act before that freedom is taken away from you. United we stand.

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Charter Membership Renewals:
The Charter would like to remind all Charter members, Associate members, Student members and Affiliates that renewal of Invoices have been posted. If your membership is paid prior to 1st April 2008 there is a discount of 5%. (This discount applies to Full Charter members and Associate members only.) We value your ongoing support!

NZ Charter Registration Board report:
To all Affiliates and Charter Representatives The Combined Governing Council Meeting that was held on Sunday 10th February had an Item whereby it was voted unanimously that the Combined Governing Council meetings have been changed and will only be twice yearly as an “Affiliate gathering” and the following dates are - 28th June (AGM) and 9th November. More information will be available in the Governing Council minutes of last meeting 10th February which will be emailed to all Affiliates and Charter Representatives.

Australasian Practitioner Only Products Database

‘Your Online Product Database’ www.npod.com.au



Attention all health practitioners:
A new Online “Practitioner Only” Database has been created for you. nPod lists products from a wide range of Health Companies in Medical & Alphabetical categories. No more searching through hard copy manuals View the latest seminar information & practitioner resources on this ‘One Stop Site’ by simply logging on to www.npod.com.au.

“A very important asset for all practitioners who use complementary medicines. This resource has been needed since the last decade, and we now finally have it. It has been worth the wait.”
Raymond Khoury, Herbal Medicine Practitioner

FOR SALE: An established business in the healthy living sector
A super home based business that is easy to run.

Work from home and enjoy a mix of retail & direct customer sales or combine with an existing business and expand. Great potential for growth. Alfa Foods Distributors are sole distributors in NZ of a healthy powdered milk alternative, chocolate drink, a delicious coffee alternative and Kreem. AlfaLite and its complimentary products have been in NZ homes for the past 20 years and have a great track record. Take assignment of the sales and distribution agreement, and you will have a business that has a positive cash flow, no landlord rental overheads and a consistent supply of pre-packed stock.

Contact Kevin Atkinson Tel: 09 442 1814



Practitioner Room for Rent Bellevue Health Centre - Mt Eden
Full reception services
Short or long term $65 a day/$280 per week
Part of day rental, by negotiation
Phone 630-6331

Healthy Options and Rainbow News
LATEST ISSUES OUT NOW!

Click here to view	Click here to view

Enquiries welcome for advertising in our Charter E-zine

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Auckland New Spirit Festival 2008
19 & 20 April, Harbour Function Centre,
North Harbour Stadium, Albany

“Love the Festival!”, “Love the new venue”, “Met lots of great people” featuring international and local speakers and presenters. Choose from the fresh and stimulating seminars on offer.

Seminar Programme.
Saturday 19: Preview Day — Open from 1pm to 6pm—Expo, café, healing, astrology & prophetic arts area only, and no ticket is required ie free entry!

Sunday 20: Open from 8.30am to 7pm—Full Seminar programme, plus Expo, healing, astrology & prophetic arts area, café, entertainment. First four seminars start at 9am, last four start at 6pm.

All entry by ticket only: $25 at the door—see Visitor’s Guide. Visit website www.thebigevent.co.nz

Would you like information regarding exhibiting at the New Spirit Festival?

Stands start at $340
Healers, Readers space—$135

For a Stand Plan & Booking Form
ph 07 864 9990 or email: thebigevent@paradise.net.nz

Dear Friend,
Many thanks to those of you who have indicated that you would be able to attend the session we had planned for Sunday, 30th March, to discuss AGRIMSENG and the possibilities of becoming agents for its marketing.

Unfortunately, we are having to delay this occasion. Too many are finding it difficult to attend on a Sunday morning.

Therefore, we have rescheduled to a time and date that appears to be more suitable to all members. Please note in your calendar/diary for:

Thursday 17th April 2008 at 5.30pm – 7.30pm
at the offices of NZ Charter of Health Practitioners 2 Airborne Road Albany Auckland
RSVP (Please register before 10 April 2008 for arrangement of refreshments)

For reservation and details, please email: info@antioncoherb.co.nz

OR contact:

We are really looking forward to meeting with you. We have more information to share with you about successful treatments. And it would be a pleasure for us to extend our list of colleagues who are committed to sharing opportunities for restoring good health. Sincerely, Dr John Hinchcliff. and Samuel Chiu

Chi Nei Tsang Abdominal Healing Workshops Auckland – April 2008 with Universal Healing Tao Instructors Gabrielle Euteneuer and Kim Knight

Thurs 10 April Mini Workshop Evening Event 6.30-8.30pm $20 / $15 Earlybird
(FREE if taking weekend selfcare workshop) Venue: Wellpark College, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Pre-registration essential

Sat/Sun 12-13 April Selfcare Chi Nei Tsang Workshop
Venue: Wellpark College, 3 Francis St, Grey Lynn, Auckland 10-5pm
$220 Earlybird Registration by 03 April or $250

Do you know that the state of your internal organs is a direct reflection of the state of your heath?

Chi Nei Tsang, literally translated as ‘Internal Organs Energy Transformation’, is one branch of the Universal Healing Tao of Master Mantak Chia, a complete system for physical, emotional & spiritual development.

During this workshop you will:

For more information or to register for the above events contact: Kim Knight (09) 833 6553 / 021 410 633 email: info@chineitsang.co.nz www.taoworkshops.co.nz
or Gabrielle Euteneuer (03) 782 6995 / 021 210 5071 email: tao@taomotion.com http://www.taomotion.com

Healing from Within Retreat - Taoist Meditation, Chi Kung & Chi Nei Tsang

Aio Wira Retreat Centre, Auckland 5-8 June 2008
with Kim Knight – Certified Universal Healing Tao Instructor and Director of the Chi Nei Tsang Clinic

Retreat: 5-8 June 2008 Thurs 6pm – Sun 2pm Tuition $295 Earlybird Specials: $225 by 30 April or $250 by 31 May Plus shared accommodation, Sauna/Spa facilities and food for $75 per day

For more information or to register for the above events contact: Kim Knight
(09) 833 6553 or 021 410 633 email: info@chineitsang.co.nz www.taoworkshops.co.nz

New Zealand's first trade event for the natural health industry
9-10 May 2008, Auckland

How do you reach practitioners, naturopaths, therapists and health shop owners?

For the first time, a unique trade event for the natural health industry with an educational seminars and trade exhibition, providing an opportunity for practitioners, naturopaths and everyone in the industry to attend.

Over 40 companies will be exhibiting including our major sponsor Thompson’s, Pacific Health, Functional & Integrative Medicine, Health Products NZ Limited, Akasha Books, Natural Therapy Pages NZ, Life Energy Designs, Double 8 Holdings and more.

Click Here for NZ show Launch Release

If you are a supplier of natural medicines, homeopathic remedies, supplements, essential oils, flower essences, bodywork supplies, business, and clinic services, courses and training providers, natural health magazines, books, CDs you should be there.

Some stands remain. For details, floor plans and prices please contact Sarah Robinson + 61 2 9660 2113 or srobinson@intermedia.com.au Exhibition Sales Interpoint Events www.naturaltherapyexpo.co.nz

Announcing the EVENT OF THE YEAR!
The New Zealand Health Industry Awards and Benefit Show will be held this year at Sky City Auckland Convention Centre on Saturday 11th October 2008.

An exciting evening is planned with a sumptuous buffet dinner followed by the Awards presentation and spectacular entertainment provided by an impressive line up of local and international artists that will take your breath away – guaranteed to saturate your senses.

Please diary this date immediately - you will want to be there!

An opportunity to nominate people for the Awards will be in place in due course so put your thinking caps on.

For further information and enquiries contact: Jenny Hammond 09 414 5517 or email jenny@synergygroupnz.co.nz

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