Kia ora

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024049601

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  

  

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account.  

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services Team 

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>; 
Received: Thu Aug 22 2024 12:53:47 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>; OIA <[email address]>; 
Subject: Official Information request - Medsafe Data on Graphene Oxide
Discovered in the Product Septanest

Dear Ministry of Health,
A commonly used dental anaethestic known as Septanest has been found to
contain graphene oxide by several expert researchers. Graphene oxide is
not listed as an ingredient on the data sheet for this product. The
presence of GO has been presumed by some to be a contaminant to one of the
ingredients, the preservative Methyl parahydroxybenzoate.
My request:
(a) Please provide the data of whatever medsafe knows about the presence
of graphene oxide in the product septanest.
(b) If this is a contaminant that is not supposed to be there, please
advise what steps that medsafe has taken to recall this product from use
in NZ?
(c) Please advise details on your knowledge of the presence of graphene
oxide in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ.

Yours faithfully,
M Bell

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 22 August
2024 for information regarding Septanest. A response to each part of your
request is provided below: 

 

A commonly used dental anaethestic known as Septanest has been found to
contain graphene oxide by several expert researchers. Graphene oxide is
not listed as an ingredient on the data sheet for this product. The
presence of GO has been presumed by some to be a contaminant to one of the
ingredients, the preservative Methyl parahydroxybenzoate. 
My request: 
(a) Please provide the data of whatever medsafe knows about the presence
of graphene oxide in the product septanest. 

(b) If this is a contaminant that is not supposed to be there, please
advise what steps that medsafe has taken to recall this product from use
in NZ? 

 

Septanest does not contain graphene oxide. A list of ingredients is
available by searching for the specific product here:
[1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/DbSearch.asp

 

(c) Please advise details on your knowledge of the presence of graphene
oxide in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ. 

 

While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers
and government agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create
new information, compile information they do not hold or provide or prove
an opinion. Your questions and the statements that support them appear
designed to engage in a debate about the presence of graphene oxide
medicines rather than a request for official information. The Act does not
support requests where an opinion, comment, argument, or hypothetical
statement is put to the Ministry for response, couched as a request for
information. This part of your request is therefore refused under section
18(g)(i) on the grounds that it is not held by the Ministry.   

 

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on: [2][email address].  

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

 

Ngā mihi 

  

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[4]inistry of Health information releases 
U[5]nite against COVID-19 

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/D...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Kia ora

Kia ora  

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The reference number
for your request is: H2024050477

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, Manatū Hauora will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  

  

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
on [2][email address]. If any additional factors come to light which
are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate to contact us so that
these can be taken into account.  

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services Team 

[4]Ministry of Health information releases 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: M Bell [5][FOI #28138 email] 
Sent: Monday, September 2, 2024 4:36 PM
To: OIA Requests [6][email address]

 

Dear OIA Requests,

Please answer the questions properly in accordance with the act.

 

(a) the NZ public is capable of reading package inserts and it is obvious
that graphene oxide is not listed as an official ingredient. However I am
asking if Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide as a
contaminant or otherwise, hence if the answer to this question is no then
please clearly state so. And while you are about it please extend the
query to include all of the other available injectable dental anesthetics.

(b) please properly answer in accordance with (a) and extend the query to
include all of the other available injectable dental anesthetics approved
in NZ.

(c) please provide this information that I have requested. Note I have not
asked for an opinion, nor am I attempting to debate anyone as you allege
without any evidence.

Yours sincerely,

M Bell

 

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. mailto:[FOI #28138 email]
6. mailto:[email address]

hide quoted sections

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for your response. Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) stands
by the decision made in response to your request for information and has
nothing further to add. While the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers and government
agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create new information,
compile information they do not hold or provide or prove an opinion.

 

As you have been previously informed under section 28(3) of the Act, you
have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under
your requests. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.    

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>
Sent: Monday, 2 September 2024 16:36
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for information, reference:
H2024049601 CRM:0114753

 

Dear OIA Requests,
Please answer the questions properly in accordance with the act.

(a) the NZ public is capable of reading package inserts and it is obvious
that graphene oxide is not listed as an official ingredient. However I am
asking if Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide as a
contaminant or otherwise, hence if the answer to this question is no then
please clearly state so. And while you are about it please extend the
query to include all of the other available injectable dental anesthetics.
(b) please properly answer in accordance with (a) and extend the query to
include all of the other available injectable dental anesthetics approved
in NZ.
(c) please provide this information that I have requested. Note I have not
asked for an opinion, nor am I attempting to debate anyone as you allege
without any evidence.
Yours sincerely,
M Bell

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora

  

 Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
 Act) to the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 22
August
 2024 for information regarding Septanest. A response to each part of your
 request is provided below: 

  

 A commonly used dental anaethestic known as Septanest has been found to
 contain graphene oxide by several expert researchers. Graphene oxide is
 not listed as an ingredient on the data sheet for this product. The
 presence of GO has been presumed by some to be a contaminant to one of
the
 ingredients, the preservative Methyl parahydroxybenzoate. 
 My request: 
 (a) Please provide the data of whatever medsafe knows about the presence
 of graphene oxide in the product septanest. 

 (b) If this is a contaminant that is not supposed to be there, please
 advise what steps that medsafe has taken to recall this product from use
 in NZ? 

  

 Septanest does not contain graphene oxide. A list of ingredients is
 available by searching for the specific product here:
 [1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/DbSearch.asp

  

 (c) Please advise details on your knowledge of the presence of graphene
 oxide in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ. 

  

 While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers
 and government agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create
 new information, compile information they do not hold or provide or prove
 an opinion. Your questions and the statements that support them appear
 designed to engage in a debate about the presence of graphene oxide
 medicines rather than a request for official information. The Act does
not
 support requests where an opinion, comment, argument, or hypothetical
 statement is put to the Ministry for response, couched as a request for
 information. This part of your request is therefore refused under section
 18(g)(i) on the grounds that it is not held by the Ministry.   

  

 If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this
 decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team
 on: [2][email address].  

  

 Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman
to
 review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
 contacted by email at: [3][email address] or by calling 0800
 802 602. 

  

 Ngā mihi 

   

  

 OIA Services Team

 Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

 M[4]inistry of Health information releases 
 U[5]nite against COVID-19 

  
 
References

 Visible links
 1. [3]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/D...
 2. [4]mailto:[email address]
 3. [5]mailto:[email address]
 4. [6]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
 5.
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28138 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
3. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/D...
4. mailto:[email
5. mailto:[email
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora M,
Thank you for your response. Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) has
considered your follow-up response and has nothing further to add. As you
have been advised, this information is publicly available. You can search
for graphene oxide in Medsafe’s Product/Application Search, which is
available here: [1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/DbSearch.asp. 
Searches for ‘graphene’ or ‘graphene oxide’ result in 0 matches, which
confirms this ingredient is not present in any medicine.
The Ministry stands by the decision made in response to your request for
information and as you have been previously informed under section 28(3)
of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under your requests. The Ombudsman may be contacted by
email at: [email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.   

Ngâ mihi 

 

OIA Services Team

Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 19 September 2024 09:38
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for information, reference:
H2024049601 CRM:0114753
 
Dear OIA Requests,
Firstly you have not clearly answered my original questions about
septanest.
ie:  is Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide as a
contaminant or otherwise?
Please be very clear when you answer this question, to make it easy for
you start with a YES or NO answer.

Now to be fair I did extend the scope of the request on 2/9/24 to elicit
the same question to other available injectable dental anesthetics. So
technically you have 20 working days from then to respond in accordance
with the law, therefore you have until September 30 to respond properly
please.

Secondly you have also not at any time addressed part of my original
request which was “Please advise details on your knowledge of the presence
of graphene oxide in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ”.

Let me also state for the second time I am not asking Medsafe to to
“create new information, compile information they do not hold or provide
or prove an opinion”, nor am I trying to debate anyone, I am asking you
for the information that you already have, so you are not permitted to
refuse my request on that basis.

Yours sincerely,

M Bell

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora,

  

 Thank you for your response. Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health)
stands
 by the decision made in response to your request for information and has
 nothing further to add. While the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
 allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers and
government
 agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create new information,
 compile information they do not hold or provide or prove an opinion.

  

 As you have been previously informed under section 28(3) of the Act, you
 have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any decisions made under
 your requests. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
 [email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.    

  

 Ngâ mihi

  

 OIA Services Team

 Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

 M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
 U[2]nite against COVID-19 

  

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>
 Sent: Monday, 2 September 2024 16:36
 To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
 Subject: Re: Response to your request for information, reference:
 H2024049601 CRM:0114753

  

 Dear OIA Requests,
 Please answer the questions properly in accordance with the act.

 (a) the NZ public is capable of reading package inserts and it is obvious
 that graphene oxide is not listed as an official ingredient. However I am
 asking if Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide as a
 contaminant or otherwise, hence if the answer to this question is no then
 please clearly state so. And while you are about it please extend the
 query to include all of the other available injectable dental
anesthetics.
 (b) please properly answer in accordance with (a) and extend the query to
 include all of the other available injectable dental anesthetics approved
 in NZ.
 (c) please provide this information that I have requested. Note I have
not
 asked for an opinion, nor am I attempting to debate anyone as you allege
 without any evidence.
 Yours sincerely,
 M Bell

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28138 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/Db...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
4. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora 
As you have been previously informed, you can search for graphene oxide in
Medsafe’s Product/Application Search, which is available here:
[1]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/D...
Searches for ‘graphene’ or ‘graphene oxide’ result in 0 matches, which
confirms graphene oxide ingredient is not present in any medicine.
 
The Ministry stands by the decision made in response to your request for
information.
As you have made repeated requests for the same information, your request
is now considered vexatious and refused under section 18(h) of the Act.
The Ministry will not respond to any further requests for this
information.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 
Ngā mihi

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[3]inistry of Health information releases 
U[4]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 September 2024 11:30
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your request for information, reference:
H2024049601 CRM:0114753
 
Dear OIA Requests,
So far you are not being helpful.
Stating again, it is not the publicly available information that I am
requesting, the package inserts and the online database already purports
to dispay the list of ingredients under headings such as “exipient”. I
don't know what exactly is in this generic term “exipient” but I would
think surely medsafe does.
All of the questions have so far have effectively gone unanswered.

Let me restate the questions in a different way:
Does medsafe have ANY knowledge of the presence of graphene oxide (as a
contaminant or otherwise) in any of the available injectable dental
anesthetics or in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ? Does the
“exipient” contain graphene oxide?

If the answer to all these questions is actually a clear "no" then then
please clearly state so and the OIA request will be successfully answered.

Possible supporting evidences to this might be reports of tests that
confirm certain products do not contain graphene oxide. Or perhaps you
might say that we have done a search of the scientific reports we hold and
confirm that we do not have any that indicate that there is or could be
graphene oxide in any approved medicines or vaccines in NZ.

You work for and are funded by the NZ public, and also by law you are
subject to the official information act, so can you please respond
appropriately. You have until Sept 30.

Yours sincerely,

M Bell

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora M,
 Thank you for your response. Manatû Hauora (the Ministry of Health) has
 considered your follow-up response and has nothing further to add. As you
 have been advised, this information is publicly available. You can search
 for graphene oxide in Medsafe’s Product/Application Search, which is
 available here: [1]www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/DbSearch.asp. 
 Searches for ‘graphene’ or ‘graphene oxide’ result in 0 matches, which
 confirms this ingredient is not present in any medicine.
 The Ministry stands by the decision made in response to your request for
 information and as you have been previously informed under section 28(3)
 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
 decisions made under your requests. The Ombudsman may be contacted by
 email at: [email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.   

 Ngâ mihi 

  

 OIA Services Team

 Manatû Hauora | Ministry of Health

 M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
 U[3]nite against COVID-19 

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 From: M Bell <[FOI #28138 email]>
 Sent: Thursday, 19 September 2024 09:38
 To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
 Subject: Re: Response to your request for information, reference:
 H2024049601 CRM:0114753
  
 Dear OIA Requests,
 Firstly you have not clearly answered my original questions about
 septanest.
 ie:  is Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide as a
 contaminant or otherwise?
 Please be very clear when you answer this question, to make it easy for
 you start with a YES or NO answer.

 Now to be fair I did extend the scope of the request on 2/9/24 to elicit
 the same question to other available injectable dental anesthetics. So
 technically you have 20 working days from then to respond in accordance
 with the law, therefore you have until September 30 to respond properly
 please.

 Secondly you have also not at any time addressed part of my original
 request which was “Please advise details on your knowledge of the
presence
 of graphene oxide in any other approved medicines or vaccines in NZ”.

 Let me also state for the second time I am not asking Medsafe to to
 “create new information, compile information they do not hold or provide
 or prove an opinion”, nor am I trying to debate anyone, I am asking you
 for the information that you already have, so you are not permitted to
 refuse my request on that basis.

 Yours sincerely,

 M Bell

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28138 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************
Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
****************************************************************************

References

Visible links
1. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/regulatory/D...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
5. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections