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AgVetLink: Number 51, August 2005

NZFSA ‘comfortable’ with fines

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is comfortable that the sentence handed down recently in the Auckland District Court reflects the severity of the offences committed by VetPharm (NZ) Ltd. and Phoenix Pharm Distributors Ltd. and their company directors Graeme John Webb, Gary William Gibson, Wallace Bruce Neiderer and Robert Sadler.

Conviction

Justice Field convicted and fined the companies and their directors a total of $70,000 plus costs on all charges relating to the importation and sale of two unregistered veterinary drugs over several years.

The investigation around these illegal activities began in mid 2003 after audits of the companies detected inventory and procedural discrepancies.

CIG comment

“I’m pleased that a lot of hard work by NZFSA investigators has resulted in such a clear message,” says NZFSA Director (Compliance and Investigation) Geoff Allen.

“The message is that the importation and sale of unregistered veterinary drugs seriously risks food safety and trade and will result in significant fines.

This proves that the systems that NZFSA has in place are effective, and that any illegal behaviour in this area will be detected and the appropriate action taken.  All those dealing with agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines need to ensure that they are doing everything that they should.

Our approach is one of education to ensure knowledgeable compliance. However, if intentional breaches are detected, we will pursue investigations and prosecute where necessary and appropriate.”

Unregistered products  

The two drugs at the centre of the case, Ulcerguard and Pentosan Equine, are intended for use in the protection and treatment for stomach ulcers, and treatment for arthritis respectively. They had not gone through the risk assessment and management process, which is part of New Zealand registration, and ensures that drug residue, animal welfare and trade risks are appropriately managed.

The use in New Zealand of any unregistered veterinary medicine or agricultural chemical is an offence under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997.