PATENT MEDICINES

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 244, 16 October 1942, Page 3

PATENT MEDICINES

CONTROL OF ADVERTISING. NEW LEGISLATION. Legirlation to control medical advertisements was introduced into the House on Wednesday in the form of a measure entitled the Medical Advertisements Bill. In a brief explanation the Minister for Health. Mr Nordnieyer, said the Bill was designeu to 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 bc~ hind other countries in the way of control of "quack" remedies and this measure was to bring the Dominion into line with overseas practice. An advertisenient is described as any words whether written cr 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 advertisemenits is to be in the hands of an authority cailed the Medical Advertisements Board which will eonsist of the Director-General of Health, as chairman, an analyst under the Sala of Food and Drugs Act, 1908, a medical practitiomer and two other persons all of whom are to be appointed by the GovernorGeneral. The board may serve on the proprietor of any drug, cosmetic, dentifrice, article, substance, preparation, instrument, or apparatus to which any medical advertdsement 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 satisf action 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 subject of a notice shall not be' published after the expdration of seven days from the service of the notice and till the board has notified its deci&ioii. With the prior authority of the board the chairman may for the purpose of proteeting 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 alsc made for the control of testimonials appearing in advertisements. Regulations may be made under the Bill to name diseases in respect of which claims to be able to diagnose, prevent, alleviate, treat or cure may not be published, and specifying drugs whicli anay not be mentioned in any advertisement. Every person who infringes the , provisions will be liable to imprison-l ment for a term up to three months or a fine not exceeding £50, 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 penaltv is a fine not exceeding £200, and up to £20 a day for continuing offences. The measure is to come into force on January 1, 1943. V