Trans-Tasman Therapeutic Agency (ANZTPA)

Proposed Trans-Tasman Joint Therapeutic Agency

Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority (ANZTPA)

The proposed joint agency is currently on hold

SEE: www.anztpa.org

"Postponement of the ANZTPA Establishment Project
On 16 July 2007, the New Zealand State Services Minister Annette King announced that "The Government is not proceeding at this stage with legislation that would have enabled the establishment of a joint agency with Australia to regulate therapeutic products." She further advised that "The [New Zealand] Government does not have the numbers in Parliament to put in place a sensible, acceptable compromise that would satisfy all parties at this time. The Australian Government has been informed of the situation and agrees that suspending negotiations on the joint authority is a sensible course of action."

NEWS

• Drug, device and therapeutic products agency 'on hold' - WHU Aug 2007
• Prescription Pills - WHW June 2006
• Submission 2002 on Discussion Paper: A Proposal for a Trans Tasman Agency to Regulate Therapeutic Products - Dec 2002
• Harmonisation - Waltzing with Matilda? - The proposal for a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products - WHW Sept 2002
• Draft Report of a Review of Advertising Therapeutic Products in Australia and New Zealand. The Codd Report - WHA Submission Sept 2002
• Time Line for the Joint Therapeutic Goods Agency - WHW Sept 2002

Drug, device and therapeutic products agency 'on hold.'

August 2007    Women's Health Update

The planned Trans Tasman Agency for the regulation of therapeutic products has been put on hold after the failure of the government to get support for it in Parliament. In an announcement on July 16th this year, Minister King announced the postponement of the Therapeutics Products and Medicines Bill stating: The Government does not have the numbers in Parliament to put in place a sensible, acceptable compromise that would satisfy all parties at this time. She added that it would remain on the Order Paper to be revisited when sufficient parliamentary support is available... (pdf)Read More

Prescription Pills

June 2006 Women's Health Watch

Prescription medicines are a hot topic. The impetus for the debate is the proposed trans Tasman Agency to regulate therapeutic products which has been under discussion and development since 2001. As the Agency comes closer to reality, the debate is heating up. Jo Fitzpatrick reports on topical aspects of recent debates drawing on the Inaugural Diseasemongering Conference in Australia; the Ministry of Health consultation on direct to consumer drug advertising, an NGO Advertising symposium and the recent New Zealand Future Medicines Policy Summit.
The trans Tasman agency project is charged with looking at the establishment of a joint agency to regulate therapeutic products (medicines, medical devices and complementary medicines/dietary supplements that have therapeutic uses) in New Zealand and Australia. Discussions have been ongoing with a view to 'harmonisation' which would put a regulatory framework in place for these products to serve both countries. The joint agency would replace the TGA in Australia and Medsafe in New Zealand. Tentatively named ANZTPA (Australia New Zealand Therapeutics products Agency), the Agency was due to come into operation in July this year but delays are probable...

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Submission 2002 on Discussion Paper: A Proposal for a Trans Tasman Agency to Regulate Therapeutic Products-Women's Health Action

Our principal concerns on any issue are around consumer rights and informed consent. We believe that people have the right to the best evidence based information on health issues, and the opportunity to use this information to make decisions about their health and their lives.

We have long been concerned at the lack of effective legislation around therapeutic products in New Zealand, particularly in the area of therapeutic devices. This was brought to our attention as women had ongoing problems with various inter-uterine devices. We are pleased to see that this proposal addresses this and other issues... Read More

Waltzing with Matilda? The proposal for a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products

September 2002 Women's Health Watch

The proposal to establish a trans Tasman Agency to regulate therapeutic products raises interesting and sometimes vexed questions for consumers. Jo Fitzpatrick reports on some of these.
What is the harmonisation project? The goal of harmonisation is to establish an agency responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products in both Australia and New Zealand. Therapeutic products include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, medical devices and comple-mentary health care products - including dietary supplements, herbal and homeo-pathic preparations. New Zealand and Australia would both come under the umbrella of this agency with harmonised regulations for therapeutic products... Read More

Draft Report of a Review of Advertising Therapeutic Products in Australia and New Zealand. The Codd Report - WHA Submission Sept 2002

Women's Health Action appreciates the opportunity to comment on this Report and be part of the consultative process. We have particular concerns in relation to direct to consumer advertising for therapeutic products, and in the area of public accountability and consumer participation in the process of regulation... Read More

Time Line for the Joint Therapeutic Goods Agency- Read here