SALE OF PATENT MEDICINES

Southland Times, Issue 24875, 15 October 1942, Page 5

SALE OF PATENT MEDICINES

ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE CONTROLLED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 14. A measure for the control of medical advertisements, entitled the Medical Advertisements Bill, was introduced in the. House of Representatives today. In a brief explanation the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, said the purpose of the Bill was 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 behind other countries in the control of “quack” remedies, and this measure was to bring the Dominion into line with other countries.

An advertisement is described as any words, whether written or spoken, _or any picture drawing of a figure which may be inserted in any newspaper or other periodical or brought to the notice of the public in any other manner. Control of all advertisements is to be in the hands of an authority called the medical advertisements board, which shall consist of the Director-General of Health (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. CLAIMS MUST BE PROVED 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, 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. AU advertisements which are subject of notice shall not be published after the expiration of seven days from the service of notice and until the board has notified its decision. AU 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the Bill to name diseases in respect to which claims to be able to diagnose, prevent, alleviate, treat or cure may not be published and specifying the drugs which may not be mentioned in any advertisement. Every person who infringes the provisions is liable to imprisonment for three months or to a fine not exceeding £5O. In the case of a corporate body the penalty is a fine not exceeding £2OO. The measure comes into force on January 1, 1943.