Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AJ ADANA AEMR AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AMED AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AMBASSADOR AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AQ ATFN AC ACOA AORL ADM AUC AGMT ACABQ ASEX AFU ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AER AN AIT AMG AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS ACS
BR BA BD BL BO BF BU BILAT BEXP BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BH BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CG CI CD CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CWC CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CDC CVR CF CLINTON CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CONDOLEEZZA CB CSW CITT CARSON CNARC CACM CDB CARICOM COM CROS CAPC CTR CV CKGR CBC CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DEAX DOE DS DAO DCM DO DE DK DEFENSE DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN EI ELN ET EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG ENNP EFINECONCS EFIM ENGY EAIDS EINVEFIN EINVETC EUMEM ETRA ETC ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EINVECONSENVCSJA EXIM ERD EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GOV GL GAERC GH GT GG GA GY GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GANGS GAZA GTMO
HA HR HUMAN HO HK HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HEBRON
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY ITU IBRD IIP ILC INTELSAT IZPREL IMF INMARSAT IRAJ IDA ICTR IA IGAD IF IDP ITF ISRAEL IEFIN IRC IACI
JA JUS JO JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KSTH KDEM KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KZ KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KPKO KCIP KDRG KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KFLO KMPI KS KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KSEP KTEX KFSC KOCI KHDP KPLS KTDB KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KAID KVIR KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KPRV KCMR KPWR KCHG KIFR KCFC KICA KPIN KSCI KESS KDEV KTBT KCRS KCGC KOMS KRIM KTER KREC KPOA KWWMN KRGY KPAK KWNM KMIG KDDG KRFD KWMM KWMNCS KX KRCM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LU LABOR
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MEETINGS MR MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MASSMNUC MEPP MCC MZ MILITARY MDC MRCRE MC MV MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NAFTA NU NDP NIPP NP NPA NG NRR NO NSC NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NGO NV NSFO NSSP NASA NW NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OEXC OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OPIC OBSP OPCW OFDA OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OVP OIC OPAD OIE OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PSA PGIV POLINT PAS POGOV PHUMPREL PHUMBA PEL PGGV PNR PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PRAM PHUS PDEM PECON PF POV PROV PRL PREO PAHO PHUH PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RCMP RF RM RFE RSP RP RICE ROBERT ROOD RELATIONS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SENVKGHG SR SY SA SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SN SG SIPRS ST SEVN SL SPCE SNARIZ SSA SNARCS SYR SK SPCVIS SHUM SIPDIS SHI SH SOFA SEN SNARN SAARC SAN SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TSPA TC TO TW TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TFIN TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TK TR THPY TP TAGS
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS USTR UZ UNHRC UNO UNMIK UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNCND USNC UNPUOS UNICEF UNCSD UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VZ VI VTIZ VAT VN VC VTEG
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WITH WWARD WHA WB WIPO WA WMO WMD WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XY XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XS XT XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZJ ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06WELLINGTON475, INDUSTRY SEES HIGHER COSTS UNDER NEW ZEALAND-AUSTRALIA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06WELLINGTON475.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06WELLINGTON475 | 2006-06-21 23:11 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Wellington

`

    VZCZCXRO6701
    RR RUEHNZ
    DE RUEHWL #0475/01 1722314
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 212314Z JUN 06
    FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2921
    INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0062
    RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0791
    RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4458
    RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0448

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000475

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    STATE PASS USTR-JJENSEN
    STATE PASS FDA FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
    STATE FOR EAP/ANP-DRICCI AND EB/TPP/BTA/ANA-MBGOODMAN
    COMMERCE FOR ABENAISSA/4530/ITA/MAC/AP/OSAO
    SYDNEY FOR CS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: ETRD ECON NZ
    SUBJECT: INDUSTRY SEES HIGHER COSTS UNDER NEW ZEALAND-AUSTRALIA
    REGULATORY AGENCY

    REF: (A) 05 WELLINGTON 119; (B) 04 WELLINGTON 596

    ¶1. (SBU) Begin summary:  Proposed rules for a new Australian-New
    Zealand regulatory agency for therapeutic products will make it
    costlier for U.S. makers of medical devices and complementary
    medicines to operate in New Zealand, according to the manufacturers'
    representatives.  They contend the proposed rules, issued May 23,
    would drive many of their products out of New Zealand.  In contrast,
    the pharmaceutical industry expects the agency would expedite the
    process for obtaining marketing approval for medicines and would
    save the industry in regulatory costs.  Its support of the agency,
    however, hinges on the New Zealand government continuing to allow
    direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, which is not
    allowed in Australia.  Meanwhile, the government does not yet have
    enough political support to pass the legislation necessary to set up
    the agency.  End summary.

    ¶2. (U) Australia and New Zealand signed an agreement in December
    2003 to provide unified regulation of prescription pharmaceuticals
    as well as therapeutic goods that have been virtually unregulated in
    New Zealand, including medical devices, over-the-counter medicines,
    dietary and nutritional supplements, and cosmetics and toiletries
    (ref B).  The proposed agency -- the Australia New Zealand
    Therapeutic Products Authority -- would replace the Australian
    Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the New Zealand Medicines
    and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe).  The deadline for
    public submissions on the draft rules is August 15.  The New Zealand
    government is hoping to introduce legislation in July to establish
    the agency and open the agency's doors in the second half of 2007.

    ¶3. (SBU) The agency's opening has been delayed a number of times
    previously (ref A), and passage of the implementing legislation is
    far from certain.  The Labour-led New
    Zealand government lacks the votes in Parliament to pass the
    legislation on its own and has no support yet from any other party.
    Some opponents are concerned about Australia's possible dominance of
    the agency, and others are worried that it would mean higher costs
    for industry and consumers in New Zealand.  Proponents say that New
    Zealand's participation in the joint agency would cost less than if
    it tried on its own to extend its regulatory authority to devices
    and other non-drug health products.

    Medical devices, complementary medicines
    ----------------------------------------
    ¶4. (SBU) Under the proposed rules, the agency would require licenses
    for all therapeutic goods and recover all its regulatory costs
    through fees and charges.  That would be particularly burdensome for
    New Zealand's medical device and complementary medicine sectors,
    which have not been required to obtain pre-market approval for their
    products and pay no licensing or other regulatory fees.  While the
    draft rules provide for a three-year transition period for product
    licenses to be obtained, industry representatives expect the fees to
    be so high that they will have to seek cheaper sources -- outside
    the United States -- for medical devices and complementary
    medicines.  They expect the fees to be similar to those already
    charged in Australia, which has a population and market roughly five
    times as large as New Zealand's.  They predict the compliance costs
    would force many smaller distributors and importers out of business
    in New Zealand.

    ¶5. (SBU) The draft rules also provide that the agency would conduct
    all conformity assessments for medical devices, including audits of
    manufacturers and testing of products to ensure they meet relevant
    standards, which also would increase the sector's costs.  Medical
    device representatives noted that the proposed agency would accept
    European certification, but not U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    certification.  As one representative said, that points to the need
    for a mutual recognition agreement between Australia and the United
    States, which presumably would enable the joint agency to accept FDA
    certification.

    ¶6. (SBU) The industry representatives said they support the agency
    in principle, recognizing the need for regulation of their products
    to ensure public safety.  However, they were disappointed that their
    years of consultations with the government about their concerns
    regarding a new regulatory regime were not reflected in the
    proposal.  They had hoped that the government at least would set
    fees according to the size of the product's market.

    Prescription drugs
    ------------------
    ¶7. (SBU) On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry sees the

    WELLINGTON 00000475  002 OF 002

    joint agency as an improvement over New Zealand's existing small and
    overtaxed regulatory regime, in which obtaining marketing approval
    for prescription medicines can take more than three years.  The
    agency also could represent a cost-savings by providing a single
    point of entry for both markets, as opposed to requiring a product
    license in each country.  The industry is concerned, however, about
    whether labeling rules and other such requirements could be met
    within three years.  It is advocating a five-year transition period.

    ¶8. (SBU) The drug industry also says it will withdraw support of the
    agency if the New Zealand government uses it as an excuse to ban
    direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA), which some firms have
    employed to boost sales of unsubsidized medicines in New Zealand's
    tightly restricted market.  Australia allows only disease-based,
    awareness-building advertising, while New Zealand is the only
    country in the world besides the United States that allows the
    pharmaceutical industry to promote its products directly to the
    public.  (The government is reviewing its policy on
    direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines, in
    preparation for drafting new legislation on the regulation of DTCA.
    Such legislation is necessary because the law that would enable New
    Zealand to participate in the joint agency also would repeal the
    Medicines Act 1981, which allows DTCA.)

    Comment
    -------
    ¶9. (SBU) The joint agency's higher regulatory costs could lead to a
    decline in sales of U.S. medical devices and other therapeutic
    products in New Zealand.  Failure to recognize FDA certification
    also would add a discriminatory barrier to U.S. medical devices.
    While the need for improving regulation of therapeutic products in
    New Zealand should be acknowledged, post suggests these concerns be
    raised in the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement talks with
    New Zealand scheduled for July 27.

    MCCORMICK

`