April 10, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

http://www.naturalnews.com/035523_New_Zealand_natural_health_Codex.html

The health freedom of New Zealanders is under very serious threat, as the federal government there pushes to pass a bill known as the Natural Health Products Bill (NHPB), or Bill 324-1, that will bring the nation into compliance with the overbearing and authoritarian food and health restrictions found in Codex Alimentarius, the so-called world food code.

If passed, NHPB will combine with the equally-threatening New Zealand Food Bill (http://www.naturalnews.com) to make it essentially illegal for individuals to even prepare for themselves, let alone try to sell, herbal products and teas, vitamins and supplements, or any other natural products that are not explicitly approved by the government as acceptable.

Overturning the common law principles of freedom that have triumphed in New Zealand for centuries, Bill 324-1 will require that all herbal remedies, traditional treatments, homeopathic remedies and dietary supplements first be approved — and very strictly regulated — by the government before being allowed to be sold or even prepared for one’s own personal use.

“The system will, for the first time in New Zealand, introduce risk-based regulation of natural health products,” says Bill 324-1. In simple terms, this means that natural herbs, vitamins, minerals, and all other nutrients used to promote health and prevent disease will be subject to the same corrupt regulatory approval process that pharmaceutical drugs are, which will in turn make it difficult or even impossible for New Zealanders to access many of these products in the future.

Bill 324-1, Codex Alimentarius, and the world takeover of food and health

Similar to S. 510 and various other “food safety” legislation in the U.S., Bill 324-1 will hand over complete control of food to the New Zealand government, allowing bureaucrats there to decide what health products people are allowed to buy, sell, prepare, and even consume. Defying the universal, God-given right to choose one’s own food, Bill 324-1 represents a grossly-dictatorial and oppressive regulatory nightmare, in which individuals must get permission from Big Brother to maintain their own health.

“[Bill 324-1] makes it illegal without a license to prepare, share or administer anything (that isn’t presented as “food”) that’s made from plants, vitamins, minerals or anything else natural,” writes NZ Food Security about the bill (http://nzfoodsecurity.org). “You’ll be liable for a $50,000 fine for doing [this], even for yourself.”

“No more home-grown camomile tea to make you sleep better. No more practising of traditional Maori medicine without a government ticket, which can be denied or revoked. No more home-made Manuka oil to put on your cuts. No more using your granny’s remedies from the herb garden. None of this without permission, fees and rules, or you face massive fines and possibly jail.”

Sections 37 and 38 of the Sanctions and penalties portion of Bill 324-1 specifically outline $50,000 penalties for individuals that “manufacture” or sell health products without a license, and $250,000 penalties for corporations that manufacture or sell health products without a license. And the definition of “manufacture” in these sections are so vague and all-inclusive that an individual preparing natural health remedies at home technically falls into this category.

Natural Health Products Regulatory Authority to arbitrarily decide which natural health products will be permitted

With the exception of a select few vitamins and amino acids that are specifically exempt from Bill 324-1’s requirements, all natural health products manufactured or sold in New Zealand, even for personal use, will have to receive approval from the Natural Health Products Regulatory Authority, a newly-established food bureaucracy.

This “Authority,” which is referred to in the bill as the “Director-General of Health,” will basically be New Zealand’s new health czar, deciding for the public what is, and is not, permissible as a natural health product. Though the establishment of an advisory committee is required as part of Bill 324-1, the legislation specifically states that this committee is to be appointed directly by the Authority, and on “any terms and conditions that the Authority thinks fit.”

As far as the approval process for natural health products goes, the Authority will be given the power to arbitrarily approve or disapprove them at will. Any product not on the exceptions list will have to undergo a product notification process in which the Authority decides whether or not there is enough “evidence” to warrant approval.

Even products that have long been used safely in traditional medicine, including home remedies, will be subject to this capricious regulatory hurdle — and if the Authority chooses to ignore a product’s long history of safe and effective use and deny approval, he or she will be free to do so without having to justify the decision to anyone. It is the literal embodiment of a health dictatorship, where one individual decides what is permissible for everyone else.

The official public comment period for Bill 324-1 has ended, but this does not mean that the public cannot still speak out against this abominable threat of health slavery. At the comment submission page for the Natural Health Products Bill, there are contact details on the right-hand side of the page that list phone, fax, and email contacts for the Committee Secretariat of Health where you can still submit comments:
http://www.parliament.nz

NZ Food Security has also put together a very useful template for submitting comments that you can customize and submit. You can access that template here:
http://nzfoodsecurity.org

Sources for this article include:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by: JB Bardot

http://www.naturalnews.com/035516_natural_antibiotics_superbugs.html#ixzz1rmRaAleL
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the antibacterial power of the mold Penicillium notatum in 1928. Even though it was a natural healing agent effective in destroying Staphylococcus aureus and other noxious bacteria, the pharmaceutical industry got hold of nature’s bounty and it became — along with multiple other Big Pharma inventions — the nightmare of modern antibiotics, causing as many problems for mankind as they were supposed to help. Because of the overuse of antibiotics, super-bugs have developed that are resistant to all but the most powerful drugs, whose side effects are often dangerous.

In nature’s infinite wisdom, several other highly effective substances exist with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, all able to protect the human body safely and with deep healing powers. You don’t have to go much farther than the refrigerator or your pantry cupboard to find safe, delicious foods and herbs to eradicate the most virulent bacteria and viruses.

Garlic

Garlic has been used worldwide for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. This wonder plant treats everything from a simple earache to pneumonia, MRSA, Helicobacter pylori, the flu and even the black plague. Contemporary research has confirmed that garlic possesses numerous antioxidants that kill bacteria and free radicals in the blood protecting the immune system and making it stronger. Garlic’s active ingredient allicin can also attack and destroy a variety of viruses — unlike modern antibiotics — as well as fugal infections, such as candida. Taking garlic supplements as a prophylactic may help to protect against various pathogens and prevent the onset of disease.

Echinacea

Echinacea has been used for hundreds of years to strengthen the immune system and fight a variety of infections. Traditionally, echinacea was used to treat open wounds, diptheria, cellulitis, blood poisoning, syphilitic lesions and other bacterial-related diseases. Although it’s mostly used today for fighting colds and flu, this potent herb possesses the ability to destroy the most virulent bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus which causes deadly MRSA.

Colloidal Silver

The germicidal and antibacterial properties of colloidal silver were discovered almost a century ago. Numerous clinical cases and anecdotal evidence provides us with the knowledge of the power of colloidal silver to kill bacteria, fungal infections and viruses. Even though the FDA has tried to discredit the efficacy of this important healing substance, the effects of colloidal silver in the treatment of bacterial diseases such as MRSA, topical wounds, sores and infections speaks for itself.

Pau D’Arco

Pau d’Arco is an herb native to South America whose active ingredient lapachol, has been found to relieve a wide range of infections include those initiated by bacteria, viruses and fungus. Studies suggest that Pau d’arco may also have cancer-fighting properties, although more research is needed. Pau d’arco was used by the Indians of South America to strengthen the immune system and fight life-threatening diseases. It’s best consumed as a tea or decoction.

Manuka Honey

The most delicious and deadly agent that works to kill bacteria is Manuka honey, which comes from Australia and New Zealand. Researchers have discovered that Manuka honey applied topically can kill a wide range of pathogens, including MRSA and flesh-eating bacteria. Scientists were pleased by the fact that the treated bacteria didn’t build up any resistance, rendering the honey ineffective.

December 07, 2011 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

http://www.naturalnews.com/034337_New_Zealand_food_freedom_human_rights.html#ixzz1rmOmf9s3

The God-given human right to freely cultivate food is under attack in New Zealand (NZ) as special interest groups and others are currently attempting to push a “food security” bill through the nation’s parliament that will strip individuals of their right to grow food, save seeds, and even share the fruits of their labor with friends and family members.

In accordance with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Codex Alimentarius scheme for global food control, the NZ Food Bill, if passed, will essentially transfer primary control of food from individuals to corporations under the guise of food safety. And unless massive public outcry and awakened consciences within the NZ government are able to put a stop to it, the bill could become law very soon.

According to NZ Food Security, a group working to protect the food freedom of New Zealanders, the bill will turn growing and sharing food into a government-granted privilege rather than a human right. It will also make it illegal to distribute any type of food based on the bill’s language. This includes seeds, nutrients, natural medicines, minerals, and even water — without expressed government permission.

You see, agribusiness giants like Monsanto want full control of the food supply, which means putting an end to small-scale agriculture systems that operate “off the grid,” so to speak. This is why they have worked so hard in places like the US to convert conventional, staple crop systems to genetically-modified (GM) ones that are continually reliant upon new seeds and chemical interventions.

As far as enforcement, the NZ bill also authorizes private companies to deploy “Food Safety Officers” that can raid private property without warrant. Not only will these “Food Safety Officers” be permitted to draw weapons against those they are pursuing, but they will also be immune from criminal and civil prosecution for their illegal actions.

You can read a full summary of what the NZ Food Bill entails here:
http://nzfoodsecurity.org/2011/07/19/food-a-controlled-substance-not-…

What all this means, of course, is that the NZ government may soon be able to arbitrarily decide at any time to restrict individual freedom to plant vegetable gardens and share the produce with their neighbors, for instance. Even “cottage industries,” which include at-home food artisans, could be restricted under the new law.

To learn more and to help defeat the NZ Food Bill, visit:
http://nzfoodsecurity.org/