Checkpoint. 2003-04-30

The drug firm at the centre of the largest medical recall in Australian history is blaming a rogue laboratory analyst for the scare which has seen retailers clearing their shelves of thousands of vitamin pills and health supplements. The Therapeutic Goods Administration or TGA has suspended Pan Pharmaceuticals licence for six months and recalled more than 200 products citing grave health and quality breaches. Pan's Chairman, Ross Brown says a laboratory analyst was found falsifying test results during final checks on a travel sickness pill, Travacalm, which caused up to 80 adverse reactions. It put 19 people in hospital, and sparked the investigation into Pan in January. And Mr Brown has rejected comments by the company's founder and chief executive Jim Selim that Pan has been the victim of a witchhunt. CUT
Ross Brown admits there've been a number of failures to follow procedures at the company that exports 40 percent of its production to Asia, Europe and New Zealand. He says the company is still looking into claims that it breached other procedures by not cleaning machinery properly, substituting untested ingredients in its products and selling products that were 700 percent stronger than labelled. The Food Safety Authority in this country says it's handling a [illegible] of enquiries from the public following the Australian recall of products. A full list of Pan products sold here will be available on the Food Safety Authority and Ministry of Health websites tomorrow, and will be published in the major newspapers by Friday. But at least one New Zealand dietary supplement supplier says it's not going to withdraw products made by the Australian company. Dave Blanchard of Good Health Limited says regulations across the Tasman are much tougher than here and while Pan is accused of not testing ingredients such as herbs NZ manufacturers are not even required to do that. CUT
The Health Minister Annette King is calling for a voluntary withdrawal from New Zealand of products made by the Australian manufacturer Fan Pharmaceuticals, she joins us now. LIVE
Carter Holt Harvey shareholders were confronted by disgruntled striking pulp and paper mill workers at the company's Annual General Meeting today. More than two hundred and fifty workers have been on strike for the past eight weeks over the failure to settle a new employment contract. Kirsty Jones was at the AGM in Auckland. PKGE
BUSINESS with SHARON BRETT-KELLY
In Israel, at least four people have been killed and dozens wounded in an explosion in Tel Aviv. No group has yet claimed responsbility for the blast which police say they believe was set off by a suicide bomber. Gil Kleinman of the Israeli police was at the scene just after it happened. CUT
The blast came just hours after the Palestinian parliament approved the Cabinet presented by the new prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas. Mr Abbass indicated that his government would crack down on militant groups. But Dori Gold, a senior adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, says the new Palestinian government has failed his first test. CUT
Friends, competitors and administrators have been reflecting on the life and career of New Zealand's most successful rally driver, Possum Bourne, who died this morning from injuries he suffered in a crash 12 days ago. The 47-year old won multiple Asia Pacific and Australian rallying championships. Nathan Mills filed this report. PKGE
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SPORT with RICHARD CROWLEY
A parliamentary committee is to hold an inquiry into whether New Zealand soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam war. The National Party called for an inquiry by the health select committee after veterans claimed that an American map shows Agent Orange was sprayed over Phuoc Tuy (fook as in cook / TOO-ee) province where New Zealanders generally served. The veterans say the Map brought back from Vietnam in 1971 contradicts a report prepared for Veterans Affairs. National's Judy Collins is one of those on the health select committee who has been pushing for this inquiry. I asked her why it's necessary. PREREC
The Canadian authorities are jubilant with a decision by the World Health Organisation to scrap its warning against travel to Toronto, where 20 people have died from SARS. Canadian health officials and politicians were outraged by the original advisory warning, but now Ontario's Health Minister, Tony Clement, says he's looking forward to W-H-O inspectors visiting the city. CUT But why is the W-H-O giving Toronto the 'all clear' just one week after telling people NOT to visit the city? Our correspondent in Toronto, Piya (pee-a) [illegible] (chat-o-pad-i) says officials there lobbied hard for the change. PREREC
The Auckland City Council is to apply to have the liquor licence withdrawn from a nightclub which was closed down for a night for being dangerously overcrowded. Building and fire inspectors found 250 patrons at the Paradise Bar on Karangahape Road at the weekend, when it is licensed for only 50. But the bar Owner Yong Cheng Duan [yung ching dwan] says the claims that there were up to 250 people in the club at one point are untrue. CUT
The area's Deputy Chief Fire Safety Officer, Gavin Parrish says the Paradise Bar had already been inspected about two months ago. PREREC
A 29 year old Palmerston North man has pleaded guilty to two charges related to a shooting in the city yesterday. Thomas Milligan fired several shots at a group of men soon after he came out of the courthouse, slightly injuring one. I'm joined now by our reporter in Palmerston North, Jill Galloway. LIVE WITH DROPIN
There are claims that a new telephone interpreting service, which has just been launched, is long overdue. The year-long pilot will help people from non-English speaking backgrounds talk to key government agencies. Brad Markham compiled this report. PKGE
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