Hi Ministry for Primary Industries,

I am a New Zealand citizen living in New Zealand.

As context, I have chronic dry eyes. One of the few products that helps this condition is Optimel Gel. It is a gel largely comprised of sterile medical grade honey. It is an imported product that has been available on the New Zealand market for a number of years. I have recently been advised it is no longer available as your Ministry has apparently decided it has too high a percentage of honey.

Given that it is one of the few products on the market that seems to help my eyes, that there are no local alternatives or close substitutes, and that I am now apparently consigned to using an increasing amount of much less effective eye care products, this is distressing.

As such, I would like you to provide any and all information regarding any decision that your Ministry has made that directly relates to the import of Optimel Gel into New Zealand. In particular, I would like to know why it was previously acceptable for it to be in the country but now it is not.

Yours faithfully,

L. Oliver