133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
W www.medsafe.govt.nz
8 May 2025
Mark Bell
By email: [FYI request #28138 email]
Ref:
018305
Tēnā koe Mark
Your request for official information
I refer to your requests under the Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of Health –
Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 22 August 2024 and 2 September 2024 for:
(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.
and
“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.
On 2 September 2024 the Ministry responded to your request and advised you that it was refused
under section 18(g)(i) of the Act, as the information requested is not held by the Ministry and
there are no grounds for believing it is held by another agency subject to the Act.
You responded on the same day and requested that the Ministry specifical y advise whether
Medsafe is aware of the presence of graphene oxide in Septanest in New Zealand. The Ministry
advised once more that your request was refused under 18(g)(i) of the Act.
Following your complaint to the Ombudsman, The Ministry is explicitly stating to you that Medsafe
is not aware of any presence of graphene oxide in Septanest or any other injectable dental
anesthetics.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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:
[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:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Chris James
Group Manager
Medsafe
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