Complementary framework
September 6, 2012
THE Australian Self-Medication
Industry has lauded the
Therapeutic Goods Administration’s
transparency in its decision to
publish details of its compliance
review framework for listed
complementary medicines.
“ASMI has long called for a more
rigorous and effective regime to
ensure the compliance of listed
medicines,” said ASMI Regulatory
and Scientific Affairs Director, Steve
Scarff.
“We are pleased that the TGA
has published their framework for
conducting compliance reviews.
“This increase in transparency
will be of benefit to both
consumers and sponsors and we
look forward to seeing the published
outcomes,” Scarff added.
Scarff went further to say that all
claims made about complementary
medicines should be supported
with evidence so that consumers
can use them with confidence.
“It is clear that there have been a
number of questionable products
without appropriate evidence in
recent years,” he said.
“This causes damage to the
industry, and we support a
strengthened framework for
advertising controls, as well as
appropriate sanctions, penalties
and complaints handling
processes,” he added.
According to Scarff a “strong and
effective advertising framework”
should include clear, published
guidelines, retain the existing selfregulatory
processes within a
broader co-regulatory system,
and apply to all advertisers
regardless of membership of any
industry association.
Scarff also said that the
framework should apply to all
advertising regardless of the
medium employed or the audience
targeted; provide timely,
consistent and transparent
complaints mechanisms, and
impose effective sanctions.
“The transparency created by the
TGA is a positive step, but much
will depend on the detailed plan
associated with how the
monitoring and review will be
conducted in practice, and whether
sufficient resources will be devoted
to the area to ensure the approach
is effective,” he said.
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