Thalidomide Ban

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29903, 17 August 1962, Page 12

Thalidomide Ban

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 16. The proprietary names under which thalidomide was sold in New Zealand were Distaval, Tensival, Valgis, Valgraine, Asmaval and Softenon, said the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) in the House of Representatives today. The importation, manufacture. sale and use of the drug thalidomide was prohibited by notice in today’s Gazette.

The action was taken under the Poison* Act. which gives the Minister of Health power to prohibit any toxic substance if he feels it is in the public interest. A spokesman for the Health Department said today the prohibition would remain in force for 12 months, during which further consideration could be given to the drug.

The prohibition also applies to substances containing thalidomide. There is no official knowledge cl any deformed babies being born to New Zealand women who have been

taking thalidomide preparations although the drug has been distributed and sold here. The Health Department last week ordered seizure of all remaining chemists' stock* containing thalidomide, which has been withdrawn from sale by •he distributors, and requested the public to return supplies in their possession.

Smoking Campaign “I cannot give instructions to the Broadcasting Corporation.” said the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) when Mr W W Freer (Opposition. Mount Albert) asked that tobacco advertisements should not be featured on television as the Health Department was engaged in a publicity campaign against smoking Answering a further question. Mr McKay said the department was always at liberty to approach the Broadcasting Corporation. Islanders’ Diet A change m diet from coconuts and fish, with vegetables and fruit on some islands, to mostly processed foods '..as adversely affected the health of Cook Islanders, said the annual report of the islands* administration. The Health Department was countering this tendency with an intensive programme of education in good diet Malnutrition was now less evident in the islands, but excessive fatness was becoming a serious problem among adults because it often causes degenerative cardio-vascular lesions

Coinage Change A change to decimal coinage would involve substantial cost in overseas funds, said the Minister of Finance 'Mr Lake) replying to Mr H G R. Mason 'Opposition. Waitakere) who asked whether the report of a commission on decimal coinage tn England, and the statement that it would have some importance in influencing the decision of the New Zealand G-vernment indicated that New Zealand would be *he last to change over Mr Lake said the Government suroorted a change but considered the o-eeent tnonoortune If and when PeifMo Australia and New Zealand decided on a changeover «nme -o-ordina. tion between the three

countries would be desirable because a simultaneous changeover would put too great a strain on the marline companies. Islands’ Exports Nearly 116.000 cases of Cook Islands oranges, more than double the previous year's output and almost 10 per cent, more than the highest production in recent years, were exported to New Zealand or canned during the year ended March last, said the report of the Cook Islands administration.

The output of the fruit juicing and canning factory on Rarotonga, which opened last year, increased the territory’s export income by £98.423, or 17 per cent. Exports last financial year were worth £598.184, a fifth more than in the previous year.

Other exports which rose substantially were citrus fruits (up by £36.038, or 30 per cent.), bananas (an increase of 107 per cent), and mother -of - peart, which almost doubled in value. Exports of tomatoes declined by £13.000 from the record figure of the previous year.