COVID-19 and industry shutdown: ANZ supplement firms sought clarification on ‘essential services’ status
The dietary supplement industry bodies in both Australia and New Zealand sought clarification on whether the sector was classed as an ‘essential service’, as both countries imposed movement restriction to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Natural Health Product New Zealand (NHPNZ) said in a notice circulated on March 23 that it had written to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) on the week before to seek clarification.
It added that the MBIE and Ministry of Health (MOH) officials would meet on March 24 to finalise the list of sectors that fall under the ‘essential services’.
Based on the Government’s definition on ‘essential services’, the trade body believes that most, if not all of its members qualify as an essential business since they could be classified as FMCG, and/or primary industries, including food and beverage production and processing, and/or health services.
