CONTROL TAKEN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 17, 15 October 1942, Page 6

CONTROL TAKEN

Medical Advertisements To Be Watched NEW LEGISLATION Legislation to control medical advertisements was introduced into the House yesterday in the form of a measure entitled the Medical Advertisements Bill. In a brief explanation the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, said the Bill was designed tq control medical advertisements, particularly of patent medicines, both in the Press and over the air, and in any other way. He said New Zealand was well behind other countries in the way of control of “quack” remedies and this measure was to bring the Dominion into line with overseas practice. An advertisement is described as any words whether written or spoken, or any picture, drawing or figure which may be inserted in any newspaper or other periodical or brought to the notice'of the public in any other manner whatsoever. The control of all advertisements is to be in the hands of an authority called the Medical Advertisements Board which will consist of the Director-General of Health, as chairman, an analyst under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908, a medical practitioner and two other persons all of whom are to be appointed by the Governor-General.

The board may serve on the proprietor of any drug, cosmetic, dentifrice, article, substance, ■ preparation, instrument, or apparatus to which any medical advertisement relates, or on any person for whom or on whose behalf a medical advertisement has been published, a notice requiring the proprietor or other person to prove to the satisfaction of the board any claim, or statement which is contained or implied in the advertisement. Persons served with a notice will be entitled to appear before the board and submit evidence. All advertisements which are the subject of a notice shall not be published after the expiration of seven days from the service of the no-, tice and till the board has notified its decision.

AVith the prior authority of the hoard the chairman may for the purpose of protecting the public publish statements relating to any matter.contained or implied in medical advertisements. All such statements will be privileged. All medical advertisements are to contain the true name of the advertiser. Provision is also made' for the control of testimonials appearing in advertisements.

Regulations may be made under the Bill to name diseases iu respect of which claims to be able' to diagnose, prevent, alleviate, treat or cure may not be.published, and specifying drugs which may not be mentioned in any advertisement.

Every, person who infringes the provisions will be. liable to'imprisonment for a term'up to three months or a fine not exceeding £so,'and for,a continuance of the offence to a further fine not exceeding £5 for every day. In the case of a corporate body the. penalty is a fine not exceeding £290, and up to £2O a day for continuing offences.

The measure is to come into force on January 1, 1943.