“QUACK” MEDICINES

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 7

“QUACK” MEDICINES

HEW: CONTROL MEASURES PROTECTING THE PUBLIC (Special.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. This measure is designed to control advertising, particularly of patent medicines, botli in the. Press and over the air, and in any other way,” stated the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) in the House when giving a brief explanation of the Medical Advertisements Bill. “ New Zealand, added the Minister, “ has been well behind other countries as to the control of ‘ quack ’ remedies. Tins measiye aims at bringing us into line with other countries. It aims also at protecting the public.” A Medical Advertisements Board will control all advertisements. This board will comprise the Director-Gene-ral of Health (as chairman), an analyst, a medical practitioner, _ and two other persons, all to be appointed by the Governor-General. The right is given to the board to serve on the proprietor of any drug, cosmetic, dentrifice, 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 contained or implied in the advertisement. The persons so served will have the right to appear before the board and submit evidence. No advertisement subject to a notice may be published, after the expiration of seven days from the service of the notice and until the. board has notified its decision. Provision is also made for the control of testimonials appearing in advertisements. Regulations may be made _ preventing claims to alleviate or cure diseases, and specifying drugs that may not be mentioned in any advertisement. Penalties up to three months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £5 are provided for infringements, and for a continuing offence a further fine not exceeding £5 a day may be imposed. The penalty for a corporate bodv is a fine not exceeding £2OO and up 'to £2O a day for a continuing offence. The measure is to come into force on January 1 next.